Exploratory Case Study: Mediation as a tool to resolve Conflict in the HeaLthcare Workplace in Ireland

Abstract

This dissertation was written as a final part of the MA in Dispute Resolution, which the author is completing through Independent College Dublin. The aim of this research is to explore the awareness, knowledge and willingness of employees in healthcare, regarding mediation as a tool to resolve conflict in the workplace. The objectives that guided the research are: To explore the awareness and knowledge of the employees in the Healthcare Sector regarding Mediation. To assess the willingness of employees in the Healthcare sector to use Mediation as a tool to resolve conflict in the workplace. To educate Healthcare workers regarding Mediation as a tool of Dispute Resolution. The author has used the objectives above to guide the exploratory case study and opted to use only qualitative data, using semi-structured interviews, which has been conducted with five healthcare workers, the author adopted thematic analyses, where five themes and two subthemes emerged. Different levels of conflict and a subtheme solving conflict at the local level, willingness to accept mediation, lack of awareness and knowledge regarding mediation in the workplace -subtheme basic knowledge of mediation in general, benefits of a neutral third party and the last theme promoting mediation. The findings suggested there is a lack of awareness and knowledge regarding mediation in the healthcare workplace, but also some of the participants have a basic knowledge of it in a general context and demonstrated a positive finding regarding the willingness to accept mediation.