Case Studies

Mediation | Meeting Facilitation

Mediation

Estates and Trusts: Lawsuit between siblings over accounting of assets in estate. Direct communication between the parties resulted in settlement.

Personal Injury: Indian-born medical doctor suffered injuries and complications from a fall in a retail store. There was a significant claim for lost wages due to his high income. Defendant denied negligence. When the underlying cultural issues were identified by Alternative Resolutions and addressed the parties were able to discuss compensation and have an amicable result.

Sexual Harrassment: Employee alleged that supervisor sexually harassed her by calling her after hours, commenting about her looks and embarrassing her. She further alleged that upper management took no action to address her concerns. The manager denied any improper behavior. After a very lengthy and emotional session the case settled and the EEO complaint was withdrawn.

Disability discrimination: Deaf employee complained that his manager failed to hire an interpreter for an important meeting. Through mediation the manager understood why receiving the information in writing was not equivalent to real time interpretation and agreed to schedule future meetings enough in advance to ensure that an interpreter would be available.

Meeting Facilitation

Team Building and Development

Action: Designed and facilitated kick-off meeting for new intra-departmental team.

Result: Alternative Resolutions helped the team write its charter including performance goals, accountability standards, work approach and measures of success.

Action: Conducted needs assessment to determine issues relating to team effectiveness. Alternative Resolutions lead group through structured process to identify team functions, responsibilities, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, and goals.

Result: Enhanced organizational effectiveness, increased teamwork, improved communication and customer service, agreed upon action plan and timeline.

Strategic Planning Retreats

Action: Multiple issues and conflicts caused by organizational change and leadership and budgetary challenges. Alternative Resolutions designed and facilitated a series of staff and management meetings using a structured problem solving process.

Result: Consensus decisions on priority issues including adoption of innovative staff recommendations. Facilitated development of implementation plan with task assignments and deadlines.

Policy Development

Action: Designed and facilitated a national symposium to identify policy issues regarding biosecurity issues.

Result: Academic, association, industry and government leaders agreed on critical issues and common principles.