Conflict is inherent in human interactions. How we manage this determines how well we work together to create mutually beneficial outcomes. Agile, by its very nature uncovers differences in approaches to solving problems. As a result it provides many opportunities to practice conflict management and dispute resolution skills. Teams and team members who do not mange conflict effectively are far more likely to be less successful. Understanding the nature of conflict and how it can be approached and managed can make individuals and teams more effective. The benefits include better communication, more dynamic and interesting work environment, more and better ideas, increased confidence in the team members and the team as a whole.
Mile High Agile 2019 Mediation as a Tool to Improve Agile Outcomes
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Presenters: Kevin Raum, Julie Klingel
Title: Mediators
30 May 2019
Using Mediation and Dispute Resolution
Techniques to Improve Agile Team Outcomes
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Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Working software over comprehensive documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to change over following a plan
Agile Manifesto
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I love molecules,” explains Marcus. “You apply a certain
amount of heat and a certain amount of pressure, and you
know exactly what’s going to happen. At the start of my
career I did great working with molecules, but now I work
with people. People are unpredictable. You apply a certain
amount of heat and a certain amount of pressure, and you
never know what’sgoing to happen.”
Fred Kofman, Conscious Business
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● Objectives
○ Promoting conflict resolution skills.
○ Increase understanding of the mediation
process.
○ Explore the benefits of mediation.
○ Discuss the mediation model and strategies
you may want to use
Objectives
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Give an example of a conflict between parties that was
unsuccessfully resolved?
What kept it from being resolved successfully?
What were the consequences of not resolving it?
Conflict in Agile Teams?
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● Data conflicts: incomplete data or different perceptions of data
● Relationship conflicts: gender, cultural and personality differences; poor
communication
● Structural conflicts: unequal power, scarcity of resources, laws and
policies; time constraints
● Values Conflicts: deep-seated beliefs
● Interest Conflict: procedural, psychological and substantive needs
● Different conflict styles
Causes of Conflict
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● Andy, a developer comes to you fuming because Joe, a developer, broke the
build - yet again. He is convinced that Joe is sloppy and doesn't care about
anyone but himself. He says that the rest of the team is ready to "vote him
off the island.”
● Joe is frustrated because Andy is a perfectionist. He doesn’t feel that there
is time to do all the things that Andy wants to do in the Sprint. He resents
that Andy seems to be poisoning the rest of the team against him and he
doesn’t feel able to stand up for himself.
An Agile Example
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1. Think about a recent conflict you had, or a conflict you are currently
having (something that you feel safe sharing, and something that’s not
high on a 1-10 scale).
2. Fill out the worksheet for yourself.
3. Find a partner and share about the conflict and positions, interests and
needs.
4. Your partner will share any feedback about any additional
interests/needs that they see and feelings they hear.
Tying It Together
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Kilmann, K (n.d.). Dealing with conflict (film).
Kilmann interview (2014). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMrl20AkMtI
Rosenberg, Marshall (2015) Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, 3rd
Edition: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships
Thomas, K (2009). Intrinsic motivation at work.
Thomas K, and Thomas, G (2007). Introduction to conflict and teams.
Ury, W (2010). Ted Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/william_ury
Additional Resources
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Please Contact Us
Julie Klingel
Julie@JulieKlingel.com
(310) 428-5414
Kevin Raum
Kraum@Coridium.com
(703) 505-3032
Kevin@ElementsofPeace.net
(720) 563-1443
Julie and Kevin - Introduce Ourselves
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If large group - Introduce yourself to the person on your left and right - tell them one fun fact about yourself or highlight from past week.
If small group – Name, Company, Position
The worst thing you ever did as a teenager?
What surprises you about your life right now?
If you week were an amusement park ride, what would it be?
Kevin
Julie
Kevin
Why are we here today?
What do you want from this?
Kevin
When you hear the word conflict, what positive and negative associations do you have with it?
The way that we handle conflict determines whether the outcome will be negative or positive. In this way, conflict is like fire – it can be useful for cooking or for creating warmth, and at the same time, if it gets out of control it can also be harmful and burn you or cause a lot of damage.
When we deal with conflict effectively, it is possible to see the positive aspects of it; we can learn a lot about ourselves and others from it, we can come up with creative ways to deal with problems, and we can even get closer to people through conflict. When we deal with conflict ineffectively, it can escalate quickly and lead to physical and/or emotional violence. (Possible positive outcomes include: we become better friends; we feel respected; everyone's ideas are understood; good solutions are possible.)
Despite the pervasive tendency to see conflict as negative, mediators see conflict as an opportunity for growth and development. Even conflicts that are not successfully resolved, allow opportunities for people to move forward with better understanding.
Julie
Julie
Conflicts are a fact of life on teams. They are no one’s fault.
Concerns of different team members are incompatible.
It occurs when two conditions are present (above).
Interdependence – team members need to work together to satisfy their concerns. In Agile teams interdependencies we know of are coding side by side, test scripts and doing testing on code, your work is dependent upon someone else completing theirs.
What other interdependencies are there?
Differences exist when team members have varying responsibilities, values, temperament, sources of information or experience. With more differences, members bring more diverse concerns to team decision making, tendeing to create more conflict that needs to be reconciled. Although differences can create more conflict, they also provide an opportunity for richer understanding of issues. For that reason, orgs often build differences into decision making teams.
Kevin
Julie
Very last thing we said on the bulleted list was different conflict styles.
Five different conflict styles - important because they are all styles having different levels of cooperativeness and assertiveness.
We all usually have one primary style, and may have secondary style.
How many of you see on your team – this style, this style.
Julie
What’s your style?
Julie
Short blurb on team conflict styles
Kevin
Kevin & Julie - Positions, Interests and Needs Worksheets (20 min)
Pass out worksheet and define with them Position, Interests and Needs
Let’s apply to case we just observed - how would you tease them apart in the “Orange” exercise.
They do the worksheet on their own and then we debrief as a group
In order to help them with underlying needs (as they are often unseen), pass out handout from Marshall Rosenberg
What someone actually means gets lost in assumption and emotion. Mediation helps parties hear what they mean.
Parties get focused on their ideal solution and work from there rather than focusing on their interest. what's your belief, need, fear, desire. What's really driving you? Focus on the why. What are the realities and emotions that drove you to the position. I have an idea and that's how I'll drive this. Egos get associated with our proposal.
People hear what they listen for and see what they look for. We look for the data for what reinforces where we think this should go and ignore information out there that challenges our own biases or perceptions. Confirmation bias
Oversimplified example that is taught. You and I are headed to a kitchen. Same kitchen, same counter and fruit bowl. We both have the same idea in mind. You want an orange, I want an orange. We go to reach for the fruit bowl. - there's one orange. What are we going to do?
Everyone gives one of two outcomes. You get it or I get it or we split in half.
Those are the only two outcomes we're going to arrive upon if we only focus on our positions.
If we chatted about our whys -
You want to make mimosas - you need the Guts
I want to make a pie - for the pie crust I need the Zest
Now what - we both get more of what we came in for.
We're not ingrained in our positions. We talk about what's important. We start to hear and understand each other. We can collaborate on more creative durable solutions that we can buy into. Focus on mutual gain. Better outcomes, better relationships.
As you explore motivations behind it, a clearer picture emerges. Way more nuance than either side realizes. Examine their own motivations
In a Dispute -
Prepare - know your position (know your needs - know the difference between what you need and what you want) and why and anticipate what the other party will come in with
Keep an open mind and truly listen
Listen to understand rather than respond.
One of the biggest concessions you can make at the table that costs nothing is to listen.
Kevin
Positions, Interests and Needs Worksheets (20 min)
Pass out worksheet and define with them Position, Interests and Needs
Let’s apply to case we just observed - how would you tease them apart in the “Orange” exercise.
They do the worksheet on their own and then we debrief as a group
In order to help them with underlying needs (as they are often unseen), pass out handout from Marshall Rosenberg
Kevin & Julie - Positions, Interests and Needs Worksheets (20 min)
Pass out worksheet and define with them Position, Interests and Needs
Let’s apply to case we just observed - how would you tease them apart in the “Orange” exercise.
They do the worksheet on their own and then we debrief as a group
In order to help them with underlying needs (as they are often unseen), pass out handout from Marshall Rosenberg
Kevin & Julie – Discussion (5 min)
How do you actually get to someone’s interests and needs? You can assume, but in reality, you really don’t know? Even if you think you do, you want to confirm with the other person through dialogue. What are the various options? (In orange exercise - one option was to cut it in half).
What are the positions here?
What are the interests and Needs of each party?
What ideas do you have to resolve this situation?
Pass out Tip Sheet
Ask participants – what other tips do you have for challenging conversations?
Questions?
What are your takeaways?
Anything that you would want more of or less of next time?
Questions?
What are your takeaways?
Anything that you would want more of or less of next time?