JIBC Conflict Resolution and Mediation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ethical obligation requires a mediator to disclose any prior relationships with the parties?
- Confidentiality
- Voluntariness
- Impartiality (Correct answer)
- Self-determination
Correct answer: Impartiality
Impartiality obligates mediators to disclose any relationships or conflicts of interest that could compromise their neutrality.
Question 2: A 'caucus' in mediation is best described as:
- A joint opening session with all parties
- A private meeting between the mediator and one party (Correct answer)
- A meeting of mediators to discuss strategy
- A public hearing on the dispute
Correct answer: A private meeting between the mediator and one party
A caucus is a confidential private meeting between the mediator and one party, used to explore sensitive issues or reduce tension.
Question 3: Which approach to conflict resolution focuses on enforcing legal rights through a binding decision by a third party?
- Negotiation
- Mediation
- Arbitration (Correct answer)
- Facilitation
Correct answer: Arbitration
Arbitration involves a neutral third party who hears evidence and renders a binding decision, similar to a private court proceeding.
Question 4: In JIBC's conflict resolution framework, 'de-escalation' techniques primarily aim to:
- Resolve the dispute immediately
- Reduce emotional intensity to enable rational dialogue (Correct answer)
- Determine who is at fault
- Document the conflict for legal purposes
Correct answer: Reduce emotional intensity to enable rational dialogue
De-escalation techniques reduce emotional tension so that parties can engage in productive, rational problem-solving.
Question 5: What is the primary goal of 'reframing' a statement during conflict resolution?
- Correcting factual errors made by a party
- Restating a message in a more constructive or neutral way (Correct answer)
- Summarizing all points made so far
- Redirecting discussion to a new topic
Correct answer: Restating a message in a more constructive or neutral way
Reframing transforms a negative or positional statement into a neutral or interest-based one to open space for dialogue.
Question 6: Which scenario best illustrates a 'latent conflict' in organizational settings?
- Two employees openly arguing in a meeting
- Unspoken tension between departments over resource allocation (Correct answer)
- A formal grievance filed with HR
- A lawsuit between a company and a former employee
Correct answer: Unspoken tension between departments over resource allocation
Latent conflict exists beneath the surface as unacknowledged tension that has not yet erupted into overt confrontation.
Question 7: When a mediator helps parties move from blaming each other to identifying shared problems, this is an example of:
- Power balancing
- Positional bargaining
- Reframing toward mutual gain (Correct answer)
- Evaluative intervention
Correct answer: Reframing toward mutual gain
Reframing toward mutual gain shifts the conversation from adversarial blame to collaborative problem-solving focused on shared interests.
JIBC Conflict Resolution and Mediation 5
Which ethical obligation requires a mediator to disclose any prior relationships with the parties?