The Process of Business/Environmental Collaborations: Partnering for Sustainability

(Hardback)

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Confrontation may be one way of settling environmental disputes but is there another, perhaps better, way Stern and Hicks say yesthrough the process of collaboration. They give executives the practical skills to create and sustain collaborations with environmentalists of all kinds, and environmentalists another way to work with corporations, not as foes but as partners. The book is unique in that it does not demand governmental intervention but puts faith in the disputants themselves to reach amicable, mutually agreeable solutions. Stern and Hicks give practical, tested advice from other dispute resolution professionals, as well as from their own experience, and organize it in a way that enables decision makers and leaders on both sides to understand and cope with the difficulties they will encounter during the course of a collaboration. Well written and illustrated with real world case studies, the book will come as a welcome relief to corporate decision makers, and as an eye-opening, hope-creating surprise for environmentalists of all persuasions. Stern and Hicks focus on two key issues: whether to collaborate and how to collaborate. They present five in-depth case studies to highlight the challenges and strategies throughout their book. Among the latter are strategies for gaining internal support for proposed collaborations, and ways to identify and enlist the participation of key parties and other organizations with interest in the negotiations. Chapter 5 looks at ways to develop constructive partnerships by drafting ground rules. Chapter 6 shows how to develop a strategic plan for collaborations. In Chapter 7 the authors analyze some of the many process challenges that parties in collaborative negotiations may face and present methods for dealing with them. Chapter 8 evaluates substantive challenges that may arise during the course of a collaboration; Chapter 9 stresses the importance and methods of documenting agreements once reached. Chapter 10 gives strategies for enlisting the help of outside organizations, including government and media, and Chapter 11, how and when to get help from mediators and technical experts. The book concludes with methods to evaluate a collaboration and a discussion of the importance of ongoing evaluation throughout the collaborative process.

Reviews

"The future of the environmental movement will involve far more collaboration with progressive corporations. Alissa Stern makes a welcome contribution by analyzing what makes partnerships work."-Glenn Prickett Vice President, Business and Policy Conservation International
"The Process of Business/Environmental Collaborations presents practical strategies for helping companies and environmental organizations improve the way they interact with one another. A must for all managers, particularly those in extractive industries."-Barry Kotek Former President Director P.T. Astra Scott (Indonesian Scott Paper joint venture)
"This book takes a fresh look at the role of collaboration in resolving environmental disputes. Through its real world examples, it explores not only the tough issues of when and how to initiate a collaboration but also how best to think about our collective interests' and goals'. I strongly recommend this book to those of us out here on the front lines in search of success."-Liz Barratt-Brown Senior Attorney NRDC
The book is well written, reads easily, and offers practical guidance for implementation....The authors did a good job at what they set out to do, that is, describing the process of how organizations can work voluntarily together toward joint goals and objectives.-Personnel Psychology
"The book is well written, reads easily, and offers practical guidance for implementation....The authors did a good job at what they set out to do, that is, describing the process of how organizations can work voluntarily together toward joint goals and objectives."-Personnel Psychology

Author Bio

ALISSA J. STERN is founding director of International Dispute Resolution Associates, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that specializes in helping companies and environmental organizations work more productively with one another. Among her firm's clients at various times have been Waste Management, Inc., Maxus Oil, World Wildlife Fund, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. TIM HICKS is founder and director of CONNEXUS Conflict Management, providing mediation, facilitation, training, and dispute management systems design and consultation for organizations throughout the public and private sectors.