session 5.5 bridging the research practice gap presentation
TRANSCRIPT
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
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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)
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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)
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
The Traditional Approach to Research
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
KIWMRG
Advisory Group
Steering Committ
ee
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
The Co-operative Inquiry Method
Key Elements of our Approach
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
Seminar Outputs
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
Activity # 1: Identify three research areas/questions that you believe should be prioritised in your context?
(Creative, brainstorming!)
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
Activity # 2: How could a Community of Practice be established in your context to address these questions?
(Creative, brainstorming!)
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
What has all this got to do with you?
Deirdre Curran, Treasa Kenny, Alec Coakley
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