Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • June 2001
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

GE's Early Dispute Resolution Initiative (A)

By: Michael A. Wheeler and Gillian Morris
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:9
ShareBar

Abstract

GE's chief litigation counsel sought to rationalize litigation flow by viewing it as a manufacturing process. By applying the principles of Six Sigma, P.D. Villareal created an Early Dispute Resolution (EDR) system that enabled both lawyers and managers to work together to address potential disputes early and efficiently. Though the savings in time and energy were tremendous and obvious, evaluating the financial savings proved trickier. Also on the horizon was the challenge of spreading the program throughout the enormous GE global organization.

Keywords

Corporate Governance; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Lawsuits and Litigation; Six Sigma; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Problems and Challenges; Conflict and Resolution; Energy Industry; Technology Industry; United States

Citation

Wheeler, Michael A., and Gillian Morris. "GE's Early Dispute Resolution Initiative (A)." Harvard Business School Case 801-395, June 2001.
  • Educators
  • Purchase

About The Author

Michael A. Wheeler

→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • Winter 2021
    • Negotiation Journal

    Introduction

    By: Michael A. Wheeler
    • Fall 2020
    • Negotiation Journal

    Christo and Jeanne‐Claude: The Negotiation of Art and Vice Versa

    By: Michael A. Wheeler
    • Negotiation Journal

    The Luck Factor in Negotiation

    By: Michael A. Wheeler and Kimberlyn Leary
More from the Authors
  • Introduction By: Michael A. Wheeler
  • Christo and Jeanne‐Claude: The Negotiation of Art and Vice Versa By: Michael A. Wheeler
  • The Luck Factor in Negotiation By: Michael A. Wheeler and Kimberlyn Leary
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College