Alternative dispute resolution (or ADR) provides a mechanism whereby disputes or differences of opinion can be resolved without need to resort to court intervention. This results in time saved and may result in money saved. Often, in ADR, the parties can agree to terms and conditions that are outside what a judge or jury could award at trial. A judge cannot order someone to apologize, but sometimes in mediation it turns out that an apology goes a long way.
Negotiation is perhaps the oldest form of ADR and does not carry the added cost of paying a neutral third party to resolve the dispute.