Intervention Strategy Analysis

Sick Leave Intervention

(INTRO)

Intervention Strategy Analysis

When working to resolve this conflict over sick leave the proper intervention strategy is critical. Choosing the wrong strategy could escalate the issue, ruin the future for the individuals, or impact the entire program. Intervention strategies to consider include negotiation, mediation, arbitration, litigation, or a hybrid. Negotiation includes both Kelly and Mr. Higashi working together to come to an agreement. This would involve either working toward and win-win or one party taking something from the other. However, the key to this method is working as equals and agreeing on the solution. The second method is mediation. Mediation would involve a third party that will help both parties reach an agreement, but the mediator would not make the decision. This style would help each party see both sides of the issue and could overcome any personal problems. The next strategy is using an arbitrator to actually make the decision. This would be a third party, and perhaps could be a representative from the Conference of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) (Lewicki, Saunders, & Barry, 2006). The arbitrator would be an unbiased third party that hears the argument from each side and makes a decision to resolve the conflict. If the two sides are unable to agree on any solution and refused to allow a third party to decide then litigation might be needed. Litigation involves the government legal system forcing a solution through the countries laws. Litigation would loose face for both sides and hurt the entire program. Public opinion would drop and risk future damage to the effort of international exchange. The intervention strategy used in this matter should work to repair the relationship between Kelly and Mr. Higashi.

Best strategy to resolve the conflict

Kelly and Mr. Higashi have found themselves to an impasse over paid leave. Mr. Higashi is attempting to enforce a Japanese work culture as if it was a company policy by requiring Kelly to take her sick days as paid leave. Kelly would like to Mr. Higashi to uphold to terms of her contract and acknowledge the days as sick leave. After much discussion, they have reached the point where a resolution does not seem certain and Kelly is considering looking to CLAIR to assist. Based on this, Team B has determined the conflict would be best resolved through mediation.

A strategy of mediation will help reclaim the situation before it deteriorates to the point Mr. Higashi and Kelly can no longer work together. Out of the potential intervention strategies mediation is the best "research suggest that even when parties are pressured or required to enter mediation, they generally come away finding it to be a fair and satisfactory process" (Lewicki, Saunders,