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30 The Mediation Process distinct stages composed of general moves be identified and hy- potheses generated about the critical situations that the dis- putants will experience. The stages of mediator intervention fall into roughly two broad categories: work that the mediator performs before join- ing the parties in joint session, and moves made once the media- tor has entered into formal negotiations. Five stages occur in the prenegotiation work of the mediator, and seven stages occur after the mediator begins to work jointly with the disputants (see Figure 4). In each of the twelve stages the mediator will design hy- potheses and appropriate strategies and will execute specific moves. These moves are both sequential and developmental and are designed to assist disputing parties in accomplishing specific tasks at particular times in the negotiation process. If a task has not been completed either by the negotiators alone or with the assistance of a mediator, the parties generally encounter great difficulties in moving on to the next stage of negotiation. Regardless of when a mediator enters negotiations-at the beginning, middle, or end-he or she will usually perform all the general or noncontingent moves. Naturally, the amount of time spent in each stage and the emphasis on each set of moves will vary considerably according to variables that will be discussed in the remaining section of this chapter-level of conflict develop- ment, timing of entry, productive conflict resolution capabili- ties of the disputants, power and influence relations of the par- ties, negotiation procedures being used, complexity of the issues, and definition of the mediator's task. Variables That Influence Mediation Strategies and Moves Although mediators make a variety of interventions to help parties move through the negotiation and mediation stages, their moves are not perfectly identical from case to case. While there are general patterns of moves, each mediator will have to modify his or her activities according to variables present in the case. The most critical variables that influence interventions are