Originally from:

AAA Handbook on Mediation - Third Edition

CONTROLLING YOUR OWN DESTINY:
YOU CAN WITH MEDIATION


William A. Blancato and C. Allen Gibson, Jr.*

I. Introduction


Businesses always want to control their own destiny, but external forces may drastically alter a company’s preconceived plan. Despite the intensive planning and vast resources that must come together in order to complete a project, construction businesses are particularly vulnerable to numerous circumstances that can affect their efforts to finish a project on time and within budget. Prudent owners, developers, contractors and subcontractors attempt to identify all of the potentially disruptive forces that could hinder timely completion and plan accordingly. Adequate preparation and pre-prepared business strategies will help them weather both anticipated and unexpected outside influences. Nevertheless, disputes are almost inevitable.
Mediating construction disputes that project personnel cannot resolve themselves provides project owners, operators, developers, contractors and subcontractors with the opportunity to direct their own future at the least cost.