ABSTRACT

Courts have generally been unable to provide either the necessary speed or expertise, so the industry long ago embraced arbitration as the forum of choice for construction disputes. FIDIC's Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Committee (ADRTC) was asked to gather information on the use being made within the construction industries of Member Association countries of amicable settlement methods, and to make suggestions for further FIDIC action. This chapter presents a s a progress report on work done by FIDIC's ADR Task Committee. FIDIC is the international body of consulting engineers' associations. Part I of the report contains general information and a discussion of amicable settlement processes. Part II of the report contains status reports from 17 countries. Part III of the report contains examples of rules and guidelines, used worldwide for conciliation and mediation. Amicable settlement should therefore be encouraged, but at any time and not just after referral to arbitration.