The author discusses the potential of developmental mediation. In developmental mediation the focus of the mediator is on retaining, adding and creating.

As a consensual dispute resolution method, mediation is gaining ever more practical significance. Above all, businesses are beginning to understand that mediation poses little risk of failure, while offering a realistic chance of continuing, and in some cases even developing, business relationships. To meet real-life demands, the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS) now provides new mediation rules as part of a whole set of new dispute resolution rules.

A novel approach to mediation is applied in a conflict between an IT-vendor and its customer. In a series of mediation sessions a computer-based Mindmap, displayed on a large screen, is developed as the model that contains the shared understanding between parties of their conflict. The Mindmap is constructed ‘life’, as the mediator facilitates the conversation between parties. It structures surface level symptoms, issues, root causes, and finally builds a set of solutions. This approach to mediation brings at least three main benefits: (1) it promotes shared unambiguous understanding of the conflict, because the parties build one shared model containing their views, (2) it promotes a balance of power, because it works counter to certain negotiation tricks, such as truth by repetition, riding hobby horses, power play, insults, et cetera, and (3) it depersonalises the conflict, as the conflict is encapsulated in the model. Computer mindmapping also provides a self-documenting process.

In this article the focus is on conflicts in the legal protection of incapable adults. First a short explanation is given of protection measurements in Dutch family law. Second is discussed in which cases judges appoint or should appoint professional guardians instead of a member of the family of the incapable adult. The central issue in this article is the role of the guardian as an ‘arbiter’ in conflicts. According to his task he cannot be independent, because his primary task is to care for the interests of the incapable person. This may bring him in conflict with other parties involved. Particularly the fact that the guardian himself can be a party in a conflict makes his position and role special. Therefore, some methods of possible strategic interaction from the perspective of the guardian are discussed.