Throughout the years, legal practitioners have adopted various dispute resolution processes in an attempt to effectively manage the relationship between parties to a contract. Traditionally used exclusively in construction projects, dispute boards are becoming increasingly prominent in other sectors. Too few practitioners are however familiar or have experience with dispute boards. This article addresses the potential of dispute boards – as panels set up to accompany the performance of a contract, solve problems efficiently and prevent the escalation of disputes – and the questions that remain regarding their purpose and effectiveness.