PSY 575 Topic 6 DQ 2

What do you think are some of the things that determine whether or not mediation is successful? Why do those things determine the effectiveness? Mediation is a structured process that allows parties to share and persuade their side of an issue; while a neutral person listens and tries to lead disputing parties to a resolution (Davidson, 1998). The neutral person also known as a mediator and should a set of qualities; such as good analytical skills, be trustworthy, have a sense of confidence, and be reasonable straightforward according to Davidson (1998). The mediation process can exercise different styles in order to be effective which can be grounded on the parties involved and the disputant factors, Salmon, Gelfand, Çelik, Kraus, Wilkenfeld, & Inman (2013) state this should be considered, especially if dealing with intercultural disputes. Salmon et al. (2013) also share there is no one-size-fits-all strategy to manage intercultural disputes, therefore the mediation strategy should meet the characteristics of the disputants. Two mediation styles discussed by Salmon et al. (2013) are: formulative, where the mediator suggest settlements; and manipulative, where the disputants come to an agreement through threats and rewards. Whichever strategy is utilized during the mediation process, Bates & Holt (2007) share that it takes hard work of everyone involved. Although the mediation process Bates & Holt (2007) discuss is in the realm of large, complex construction disputes it is stated that successful mediation requires; commitment from all participants, open communication and understanding, discovering commonality, building consensus and engagement of all parties. This allows the mediation process to meet the needs of the parties involved to achieve an acceptable resolution to their difficult issues by giving them a format that allows all parties to be involved, present their side, communicate while also listening to the other party. References: Bates, A., Jr, & Holt, L. T. (2007). Large, Complex Construction Disputes: The Dynamics of Multi-party Mediation. Dispute Resolution Journal, 62(2), 36–41. Retrieved from: Davidson, J. E. (1998). Successful mediation: The DO’s and DON’Ts. Dispute Resolution Journal, 53(3), 26–29. Retrieved from: direct=true&db=bth&AN=&site=eds-live&scope=site. Salmon, E. D., Gelfand, M. J., Çelik, A. B., Kraus, S., Wilkenfeld, J., & Inman, M. (2013). Cultural contingencies of mediation: Effectiveness of mediator styles in intercultural disputes. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34(6), 887.