Session 5.5 bridging the research practice gap presentation

Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley

Bridging the Gap Between Workplace Mediation Research and Practice: The Irish Experience

NW Dispute Resolution Conference 2016

Presentation Overview The framework of our approach The context of workplace mediation in Ireland The case for bridging the research-practice gap The KIWMRG as a ‘Community of Practice’

Why we formed Who we are Co-operative Enquiry as our method of choice Unique features of our approach

The MII Project as an example of how we operate

What does this mean for you?Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec

Coakley


Framing our Approach

Establishing a workplace mediation

‘Community of Practice’

Using ‘Co-operative

Enquiry’ as our research

method

A real project as a case in

point

Conflict Management Practices & Innovations in Organizations

Conventional Practices ADR Practices

Individual Grievances

CollectiveDisputes

• Multi-step grievance & disciplinary procedures

• Resort to employment tribunals & litigation in courts

• Multi-step disputes procedures, usually with provision for external conciliation or adjudication following an impasse

• Open-door policies• ‘Speak-up’ & related systems• Organizational ombudsman• External and internal mediators• Review panels of managers or peers• Union/non-union employment arbitration• ADR-led conflict management systems • Proactive conflict prevention• Intensive communications surrounding

change management• Proactive line and supervisory

engagement in conflict handling• Conflict management systems• Socializing conflict out of the organization

• ‘Assisted bargaining/mediation within procedure to avoid impasse• ‘Brainstorming’ & related techniques• ‘Interest-based bargaining’ with facilitation• Fact-finding• Arbitration, ‘mini-trials’ & ‘med-arb’• Intensive communications surrounding

change management• ADR-led conflict management systems• Proactive conflict prevention• Proactive line and supervisory engagement in

conflict handling• Conflict management systems• Socializing conflict out of the organization


Workplace Conflict in Ireland What emerges from research into

alternative dispute resolution practice in Ireland is:

... a picture of mediation as a mechanism of which the operation and efficacy depend upon

the context in which it is located. Senior managers may use it as a central part of HR

strategy, they may see it as a somewhat peripheral element of an overall strategy that

relies primarily upon strong management-union linkages, or they may envisage it as an

unformed, yet to be clarified, set of possibilities and potentials (Teague et al,

2015:112)


The Use of Mediation in Ireland

Workplace Mediation

Internal Mediatio

n Services

External Mediator

s

State Institutio

ns

The Case for Research Solid, empirical, issue-driven research:

Provides evidence for what we think we know It broadens perspective beyond our own It enhances the credibility of a profession and

helps obtain/justify resources It provides new ideas to try out

in new contexts It can address ‘burning’ questions

that have accumulated It can inform policy & practice


The Case for Research-Informed PracticePracticing mediators have a responsibility to at least draw from, if not support or engage in, mediation research.

I realized that without understanding the underlying theoretical principles of practice, we are merely skilled mechanics trying out one tool after another without understanding what tool would be appropriate to the task. (Lang, 2000)


The Traditional Approach to Research


Focus is on theoretical development Often no direct link to practice Empirical dimension involves academics

studying practice from the outside Practitioners become the ‘subject’ Key outcome - publication in high ranked

journals which few ‘real’ people read


Community of Practice Dynamic social structure Common issues/concerns Focus on individual & group goals Defined life cycle Spirit of learning & collaboration Trust, mutual respect, reciprocity &

commitment Create, capture & diffuse knowledge Tangible results applicable to practice

The KIWMRG as a Community of Practice


KIWMRG

Advisory Group

Steering Committ

ee


The Co-operative Inquiry Method Collaboration of academics and practitioners Active research Creative ways of identifying and addressing

the issues Focus on making practice better Follows a specific sequential iterative process Can be internally or externally initiated


The Co-operative Inquiry Method

Key Elements of our Approach


Research ‘with’ rather than research ‘on’ Merging of the researcher and the

subject Focused enquiry with the aim of shaping

the future Live research questions identified by

peers Research by practitioners for

practitioners Egalitarian structure A ‘learning community’ focused on

continuous learning and personal development

Theory informing practice and practice informing theory

Identifying the issues: The KI Workplace Mediation Research Seminar 2015

Overarching

Ambition

Strategic Goal

s

Key Areas

of Resea

rch


Seminar Outputs


Overall ambition: To establish Ireland as an international hub for workplace mediation research

Strategic goals:1. Co-ordination of workplace mediation in

Ireland2. Gathering and publishing what has been

done to date3. Maximizing involvement in this area.

Identified Key Research Areas


Effective mediation practice

Barriers to mediation use

Ethics Mediation regulation Internal or external

mediation Engaging participation

in mediation Experience of mediation Outcomes from

mediation

Cost benefit analysis The future of

workplace mediation

Trade unions and organisations

Regulation and third party frameworks

Professional membership

Conflict competence Mediation practice


Activity # 1: Identify three research areas/questions that you believe should be prioritised in your context?

(Creative, brainstorming!)


Activity # 2: How could a Community of Practice be established in your context to address these questions?

(Creative, brainstorming!)


Effective Mediation Practice: The MII Project The Role of the MII What motivated the Project Why us? What was the brief? How did we approach the task? Progress to date


Approaching the MII Project through Co-operative Enquiry Invitation for participation to those in KIWMRG Skill building – library, literature review, writing for

publication Shared Dropbox organised in initial agreed folder

structure Sourcing empirical research academic descriptive

literature and “grey” literature Reflection on approach and reorganisation based on

learning Egalitarian structure and consensus decision-making Shared template for review of assigned documents Initial thematic analysis based on reviews

In Conclusion


What has all this got to do with you?


For queries and/or further information please contact:

Dr. Deirdre Curran, NUI [email protected]

Treasa Kenny, Burtenshaw Kenny [email protected]

Alec Coakley, Conflict [email protected]

Or visit us: www.kiwmrg.ie

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Session 5.5 bridging the research practice gap presentation