An investigation of evaluative and facilitative approaches to construction mediation
Abstract
Purpose
The paper seeks to examine the debate on mediator style and provide empirical evidence on mediator orientation, which has implications for party choice and the development of professional standards for construction mediators in the UK.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyses the theoretical arguments and distinctions in mediator style and assesses the available evidence relating to the utilisation of evaluative or facilitative mediator approaches in the UK and US construction industry. The paper reports on data from qualitative interviews with construction lawyers experienced in using mediation in the UK to assess the level of evaluative conduct experienced.
Findings
The findings suggest that interviewees had experienced a mix of evaluative and facilitative interventions by mediators. The data support the contention that construction mediation in the UK mirrors the experience of the USA and is becoming “lawyer‐driven” and adversarial, with mediators utilising evaluative techniques which some members of the legal profession prefer.
Research limitations/implications
The qualitative data are based on a small sample of mediation users in the UK construction industry. However, interviewees were selected from respondents to a randomly conducted large‐scale postal survey of commercial and construction lawyers. All interviewees were repeat users of the process and all but one had received training in mediation or are practising lawyer‐mediators.
Practical implications
The data provide evidence of different mediator techniques currently utilised in the UK construction industry and the practices of lawyers in the mediation process. The findings have implications for party choice and should inform the development of professional standards in construction mediation practice.
Originality/value
The paper provides original data on the practices of mediators and lawyers in construction mediation.
Keywords
Citation
Brooker, P. (2007), "An investigation of evaluative and facilitative approaches to construction mediation", Structural Survey, Vol. 25 No. 3/4, pp. 220-238. https://doi.org/10.1108/02630800710772818
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited