BPS 335 – Week 3 – Live Session Worksheet
Chapters 3 & 4 – ADR & Negotiation
Name:
The purpose of this live session is to discuss and review problem solving
approaches on the ADR Continuum and key communication skills for managing
conflict. You will be working in groups to discuss the questions below and bring
ideas back to the larger group.
Problem Solving Approaches
1). Matching the Dispute Resolution Process to the Appropriate Situation
Share experiences you have had with alternative dispute resolution. What worked
well and what didn’t? Think of a current conflict in your work environment or news.
Which ADR process (be specific) would have been best to address this conflict and
why? (See Chapter 4, p. 129, Figure 4.1)
2). Open Door Policy - In Chapter 4, the author introduces Open Door Policy (p.
129) as a process on the ADR continuum to engage in if direct negotiation does not
succeed. In small groups , discuss the benefits and challenges of using open door
policy in your organization and in general. What are the benefits of using open door?
What are the challenges or negative outcomes that may happen? Which side do you
fall on – opening the door or not? Why? Would open door policy work in your
organization – why or why not?
Key Communication Skill – Reframing
3). Reframing - In Chapter 1, p. 48, Raines provides an overview of reframing. In
small groups, review the Reframing Exercise, scenario and statements, (Find on
Blackboard in the Live Session section for Week 3) and reword the statements to
reframe positions as interests and destructive past-focused comments into
constructive, forward-focused comments.
Be prepared to share ideas from your small group discussion with the larger group
during the live session. Use this space to share one reframed sentence and your
thoughts on the value of reframing. What is your most important takeaways about
the skill of reframing? Would use of this skill work in your organization? Why or
why not?
Reframing Exercise
These comments were heard at a public meeting in regards to a zoning issue that would
allow a ‘big-box’ store to locate near Main Street of a small town. Imagine you are the
public employee tasked with recording public comment and then setting the agenda for
discussions between city officials and concerned citizens. Reframe positions as interests.
Reframe destructive, past-focused comments into constructive, forward-focused
comments.
Example:“I don’t want this town turning into a generic-looking suburb with no character
and only poorly paid jobs!”.
Reframe for the agenda: “If I understand correctly, you are concerned about
maintaining the town’s current character and ensuring the economic viability of its
residents?”
1. I don’t want huge trucks on our small roads, endangering our children!
2. If it does get built, this store should not be open 24 hours a day---I live next door and
do not want to hear trucks coming and going at all hours and forklifts beeping at
2:00am.
3. I think the store should be allowed to open. Government should not interfere with
free enterprise.
4. The day the store opens my property values will drop. Those of us who live next to
the proposed site should be compensated or relocated.
5. In this economy, all jobs are good jobs. I think the store should be able to open but it
should only hire people who live within a 10 mile radius so local people benefit the
most.
6. This company has been repeatedly sued for gender and racial discrimination and has
lost multi-million dollar suits recently. I do not think they will be a good member of this
community.
{All of the problem solving processes covered in this module require
communication skills and we will address the skill of reframing in this live session.
Other skills such as listening are addressed in the goals journal exercises. You are
encouraged to reflect on your level of skills and set goals for improving in those
areas that need development}.
