Dr. Burke #2 Feb. 24th, 2010

The readings for week 5 of our semester have two major points that I am focusing on.  First, empathy is very important.  Understanding the other party's point of view is the best way to understand their position.  Understanding another person's perspective allows for more fluid paths to solutions.  The other aspect I would like to touch on is lateral thinking coupled with WATNA (Worst Alternative To a Negotiated Settlement) and BATNA (Best Alternative...).  Using lateral thinking in tight spots allow for emergent and/or contractual mediators to use empathy as the first step in a mediation, then lateral thinking coupled with WATNA and BATNA.  This allows for the mediator to find solutions to the conflict presented.  These Worst and Best Alternatives allow for mediators to push the conflicted parties in another direction that allows them to consider their possible outcomes.  They are not threats, but have a way for parties to understand the "what ifs".  In order to do this, the mediator should place themselves in the parties' shoes.  Thus, my interest in empathy being used to move to a lateral thinking position.  I have combined two key parts of this week's readings in order to show the connection between these two books.