THE IMPACT OF USING MEDIATION TO RESOLVE CROSS-CULTURAL CONFLICTS IN THE WORKPLACES IN DUBLIN

Abstract

This material focus on the impact that Mediation has in resolving cross-cultural conflicts in the workplaces in Dublin for the dissertation of the Master’s graduate program in Dispute Resolution of Independent Colleges in Dublin City. It starts with a description and perception of Mediation as a whole and how the professionals apply it daily. The research aims to analyse if mediation approaches can prevent disputes, and the investigation address professionals who work in organisations in Dublin. The secondary research was based on the literature review of previous studies that had mediation approaches as the focus of its variants on many different applications that resulted in the ideas and theories on this material. The methodology used was as follows: Interpretivism philosophy; inductive approach; mono method survey addressed to a group of professionals as the primary research that provided qualitative data for the field of the study; crosssectional time horizon combined to non-probability sampling. The research indicated reasons for how conflicts at work occur among people from different countries, with Mediation and its benefits as a pillar to solve and prevent disputes without disturbing the synergy among the organisations. The secondary objectives were: To assess the most common factors that cause cross-cultural conflicts in the workplace; To determine the role of Mediation in resolving cross-cultural conflicts; To explore the use of Mediation in resolving cross-cultural disputes in the workplaces. These results show that Dublin has a diverse population of professionals who have already been involved in disputes due to cultural differences. The research also shows these professionals would attend Mediation to deal with conflicts at work due to its benefits. However, the companies in Dublin lacks a department/person to offer these services Dublin, which makes it hard for the professionals to use this approach in the organisation.