Reflective Analysis: Mediation Process in Business Scenario

The assignment reflects on a classroom mediation activity where the student assumed the role of an IT company negotiating with a hotel business. The student prepared by understanding the IT requirements, costs, and potential issues. During the mediation, the IT company presented services for website redesign and inventory system integration, leading to a price dispute that was resolved with the mediator's help. The student discusses the mediation process, highlighting the roles of each party, the importance of an independent mediator, and the process of reaching a mutually agreed-upon contract. The reflection covers the preparation, negotiation dynamics, and the student's key takeaways regarding mediation's effectiveness in resolving business disputes. The student learned how mediation can help parties recognize obstacles and find common ground.

Reflection on the Mediation
Process
Student’s Name:
Student’s ID:

1
Answer
I have taken the role of the IT Company. I have prepared to be aware of the IT roles and skills
needed for each task and costs of each of these tasks. Then I have created a business case so the
meditator and the hotel business also have to be involved for their expertise. I have made a list of
possible issues of mediation, done a critical analysis of the related information, analyzed the
strengths and weaknesses of the case and planned my presentation. In the first 30 minutes, all the
three entities were introduced and told that two IT functions, its website and its inventory system
would be applied by the hotel business. I have briefly outlined the required services and costs of
those services. The mediation process begun with the aim to reach a suitable outcome for the
hotel business and me. I have offered a price for mediation which the hotel business was unable
to afford and a situation of dispute has taken place between us. After some discussion, both of us
have agreed to take the help of the mediator to solve our differences. Then we discussed the final
terms of the agreement and finalized by us with the help of the documents provided by the
mediator.
I have learned that mediation is one method to resolve disputes where an independent mediator
helps the parties to reach a mutually agreed agreement. The session of mediation includes the
discussion on the differences by the parties. This session is generally attended by the mediator,
the parties and sometimes their lawyers. The process is usually finished in one day or less. The
mediator has no power to take any decision or force the parties to agree on the contract. The
mediator can only help the parties in the mediations by recognizing the obstacles and making
plans to over those obstacles. The final agreement will be made on the decisions and agreed
terms of the parties.