Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Management for Project Managers

Certificate of Participation provided by Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo

Workshops 1 & 2

Dispute Management:

Effective Negotiation and Mediation for Project and Contract Managers
Resolve Project Disputes using Collaborative and Interest-Based Solutions to Avoid Expensive Litigation and Build Good Working Relationships

Overview
In these highly interactive workshops the focus will be on the project manager and the project environment to understand the causes of disputes and how to manage these disputes through the use of negotiation and mediation. We will consider the building blocks that create disputes and those that assist in or detract from their resolution. You will be invited to engage in reflection, conversation, and exercises as disputes are studied and models for addressing them are considered. Significant time will be given to skill building for effective speaking and effective listening, and understanding conflict modes. You will also build negotiation and mediation skills, and then move beyond skills to a strategic awareness of the choices negotiators and mediators make in facilitating dispute resolution.  You will examine in detail the elements of interest-based negotiation and mediation, while maintaining relationships. The inter-university Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School model will be the primary focus.  This interest-based approach believes that every negotiation involves the creation and claiming of value and that every negotiation ought to focus on interests, not positions.

Outcomes:
How to...

• Understand the life cycle of a dispute
• Explore the role of culture and emotions in the development and resolution of disputes
• Communicate successfully, listen and speak effectively
• Prepare effectively for negotiation
• Enhance your own negotiating position while building a strong business relationship
• Structure a mediation process
• Uncover your interests and those of the other side
• Develop interest-based, collaborative solutions while building trust
• Use the core skills of a mediator to help parties reach agreement
• Respond when the parties are not willing to move to agreement and when there are power imbalances

Day 1

• Introduction
• Distinguishing between conflicts and disputes
• Sources of Conflict: Making Sense of our Conflict Experiences
• The Evolution of Conflict: Its Growth, Climax and the Long Journey to Resolution
• Becoming Involved:  Effective Listening and Speaking
• Models of Conflict Resolution
• Role Play

Day 2

• Personality Styles
• Responding to Emotions
• The Role of Culture in Conflict
• Group Disputes: Conflict Norms and Group Behaviour
• Conflict Modes and Styles
• Role Play

Day 3 

• Defining and Understanding Interests
• Dealing with Rights and Power
• Moving from Positions to Interests

Key Elements of a Negotiation

• Distributive vs. Integrative (Interest-Based) Negotiation
• Structuring a Negotiation
• Key Communication Skills
• Working with BATNA’s
• Dealing with Positional People and Dirty Tricks
• Role Play

Day 4
Building Collaboration

• The Impact of Litigation on the Development of Disputes
• The Options for Resolving Disputes
• Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes Needed by Mediators
• Mediation Process Overview
• Role Play

Day 5

• The Five Tasks in Mediation
• Caucusing
• Anticipating and Resolving Impasses
• Mediator Ethics
• Role Play
• Conclusion