Susanne Freund

Workplace Mediation: Searching for Underlying Motives and Interests

This chapter argues and illustrates with a case study that an efficient mediation of a conflict between two or more conflict partners should be based on the analysis of the underlying structure of the conflict. This underlying deep structure of the conflict is formed of unfulfilled motives and wishes. One of these crucial hidden aspects is the experience of injustice. We assume that only by taking into account the underlying motives and practicing a communication of mutual understanding, the core (or “deep structure”) of the conflict can be fully understood and sustainably solved. This is essential both for economical and non-monetary issues. This chapter is based on a theoretical perspective of social conflicts, however it also offers practical support as well as references to methods for the practice of workplace mediation.