A consumer electronics company is deciding what new products to manufacture and for what group of customers. Once that information has been decided, it will have to determine what processes it needs to make these products, as well as the facilities it needs to produce them. These decisions comprise planning.

During mediation, a mediator helps the two competing sides reach a joint agreement.  the mediator does not take a side, propose a solution, or show any bias to either side. During arbitration, an arbiter hears the two sides of the conflict, asks some questions, and then makes a final decision on the conflict. The arbiter can choose any solution that they wish, and the two competing sides are bound to obey the decision of the arbiter.