Conflict between a Hungarian sub-supplier and his German customer caused by a shipment of goods in default. The conflict had been escalating for two months, the customer cancelled his order and the parties exchanged letters via their respective counsels.
Stage of conflict escalation: 3 (after Friedrich Glasl’s stage model of conflict escalation: fait accompli as a strategy, deeds rather than words)
Mediation session
Participants: the German customer, two representatives of the Hungarian supplier, an interpreter (who was acquainted with the business circumstances) and the mediator
An immediately implementable plan of action in 14 points, a positive atmosphere after the session, the customer revoked the cancellation of his order
A timely and inexpensive solution, immediate further cooperation was enabled. Mediation gave the clients a chance to resolve their conflict amicably and thus preserve a friendship which dated way back.
Conflict between a German supply plant and a Czech importer, approximately € 70.000,- in dispute, highly escalated for about half a year (stage 5 in Friedrich Glasl’s model of conflict escalation à public and direct personal offenses – losing face)
Mediation session (co-mediation) in Czech Republic including the counsels of all parties.
Each of the parties was accompanied by an extra person as “witness” in the mediation session. The mediator was also supported by counsels for translation as well as for clarifying the legal rights in both countries.
A bilingual agreement including a detailed plan for several stages of legal and financial settlement which both parties strictly adhere to since
In short: timely appointments, a consensual solution, saving energy and resources for other business projects, avoiding tremendous costs. Before mediation, both parties had already incurred legal expenses amounting to € 3.000. These costs would have skyrocketed with further meetings. International conflicts like this one, which stretch across more than one jurisdiction, include very complex legal questions and ambiguous matters. This alone would have caused any legal dispute to extend for at least several months, if not years.
Conflicts between management and a business unit caused by a partially-rejected organizational change, the conflicts have been virulent for about two years and paralyze parts of the organization
Stage of conflict escalation: 3-4 (after Friedrich Glasl’s stage model of conflict escalation: fait accompli as a strategy, parties construe negative roles around their counterparts and antagonize them)
mediation session
Characteristics: after clearing the personal relations and reestablishing a base for constructive cooperation the parties employ elements of organizational development from time to time. The client’s financial plan did not allow more than five sessions, therefore the two topics (relationship and organizational development) were dealt with simultaneously.
Self-designed rules for cooperation, basic structure for adaptation(s) of the organizational form