What does the theoretical literature suggest should occur in this type of dispute? Use course readings; no extra research is needed.
What occurred in the simulation? You must provide details of the simulation process. Include case information for explanatory/analytical purposes.
Discuss why you think your experience did or did not match what “should” have happened. This section should be analytical.
The paper should offer unique insight and critique of simulation experience. Use of theoretical literature is accurate and thorough. Writing has exceptional clarity and citations are done correctly.
Class Activity Simulation Transcriipt:
(I played the role of William, the mediator)
Will(Mediator): Hi everyone. I am William and you can call me Will. I am serving as your mediator today. I’m trained to assist in resolving disputes. First of all, thank you for committing to be here today. Your presence today demonstrates your willingness to attempt cooperative problem-solving. My goal here today is to help you resolve the issues along with assisting you in smoothing the process. Our conversation will be fully confidential and be used only for reference. Hopefully you will find mediation to be helpful. If any of you have a special need during the session, please let me know now or at any time during this session. Also, please silence all electronic devices during this mediation. Before we start the mediation process. I need to confirm something with both of you. First, this mediation is completely voluntary for both of you. Do you agree?
Lee(Party 1): Yes.
Chris(Party 2): Yes.
Will: Great. I will start off this mediation with having both of you introduce yourself. Any volunteer?
Lee: (Silence).
Chris: (Silence).
Will: No? Ok. How about Chris? Could you introduce yourself first?
Chris: Yes. My name is Chris Mitchell. Let me tell you a little bit about my business the New Body Spa. New Body Spa is really important to me because it is a culmination of my lifelong dream and being at the Quickstop Mall, this location where we are today, is a perfect spot for my spa because there is a lot foot traffic and it is very convenient being located here. I live under the philosophy of “Nurture your mind, body, and soul, and live a mindful but peaceful existence.” My business also resinate with this philosophy. So I’m here because I’m experiencing a lot of problem, like operating my business next to Lee who is very unfriendly and get us bad karma. He needs to loosen up and stay out of my affair and let me run my business peacefully.
Lee: Ok. First of all. Very nice to meet you Will. My name is Lee Jones. I have been the main tenant at the quick stop mall for 18 years. And I have always enjoyed the reciprocating and calm attitude of the people surrounding me. Recently, I have been having some problems with my shop. Specifically, this was the only business that had not turned over in 18 years. And then, out of the blue, because of some restructuring, I ended up being neighboring with, you, Chris Mitchell, and your New Body Spa. I just have some issues with you that I think we need to discuss.
Will: Very nice to meet both of you Chris and Lee. So Lee, could tell me about those issues you are experiencing with Chris and the New Body Spa?
Lee: Sure. First of all, I understand that this is a mall, this is a business that everybody is here to make money. They have a life to support and provide for. But, there is a lot of strange music and weird smell coming out of the spa from my neighbor. And it just really inconsiderate. Especially the music. I know that my machinery is also loud since I run printing presses. But its just too loud and its annoying. Its offensive and its inconsiderate to your neighbors. Like what do you have to say about yourself?
Will: Chris?
Chris: Yeah. The reason there is smell within our space because we use herbal scented incense during our 9am, 1pm and 4pm group meditation classes. And during the classes, we’re trying to chant a ancient tribal rhythm. So that is why there is why is the smell and the sound. We also offer different treatments that get our philosophy carried out, which is “Nurture your mind, body, and soul, and live a mindful but peaceful existence.” We’re only chanting during our sessions. The chanting are part of the process, is not something that we can get rid of. And lighting the essence is part of spiritual cleaning. So it is something that engraved in our philosophy we practice through our treatment and classes. It’s not something that we can give up. But also we understand that we are noisy. But our neighbor(Lee) is just as noisy with all their printing system. We used to operate next to another printing store and they were quiet. So we don’t know if it is the machine or what it is. But we can hear the noise loud from Lee’s printing store. Also, when we play our music, sometime, Lee bangs on the wall. And this disturbs both myself and my customers. He bands the wall and shouts “turn off that hippy music” during our classes. We lost customers because of that. I just think that is very inconsiderate to my business because we are not shouting at them.
Will: Lee. Does the music from the spa affect your business?
Lee: Not really. It is a printing press. It has to function and to make noise in order to make money. But for me, the number one thing that was my disturbance was the smell. Because what, particularly, is in the incense? Is that some kind of illegal substance? What is exactly in the incense.
Chris: It just a natural herbal incense. You light it and some smoke comes out. The smell is good for spiritual cleansing.They are not illegal.
Lee: Thank you for the clarification. Thats something revealing but you have to understand that even though you gave me this information, it is still something that disturbing. Not everybody likes the same perfume of scent. It’s bearable but I prefer for it not to exist. What do you think of some of the solutions that can cover it up, like less diffusion of the smell.
Chris: Yeah. Maybe we can agree to switch to some incense that creates less scent of smell. But we are not willing to get rid of it completely because it is essential for spiritual cleansing.
Lee: I totally understand that your are running a business. And you are taking all these actions to support and grow your business. What do you think if you use some masking spray or some alternatives? It is just the smell disturbs me. It’s just something new and weird. What can we do to work together to solve the issue? Maybe we can get together and test out different smells to pick something that you don’t find irritative?
Lee: That is a very interesting proposition. I like that. But, in addition, what about the music. Again, I understand that it is business. But do you really need that super loud music to conduct your classes. Or can customers benefit in some way if you lower the music by understanding you better and learning the moves better.
Chris: Yeah. No. We’re not willing to turn down the music because it is also essential to the spiritual cleansing. But like we said, you’re printing machines are just as noisy. We both need to look at our noise levels.
Will: Are you both able install some kind of sound proof materials to your walls that may able to reduce the noise levels.
Chris: We may need to discuss that with the mall.
Lee: Yeah. I like the idea. But you need understand that the printing business is taking an huge impact as more people moving to digital printing service. As result, we are losing a lot of money. Even thought, it seems like a reasonable solution. I’m not sure how much I can contribute form the financial point of view if that makes sense.
Will: Understood.
Chris: I think something I can bring up in my experience as a business owner. Because we are next to your printing stop, I have actually gotten a lot of questions from my customers about your service. However, I didn’t refer them to your shop because we didn’t have that relationship. So I think looking at it from that point, you are losing because of these issues we are having.
Lee: I think that is very understanding and I would be open to some sort of concession or commitment to actually working together by referring customers to each other. In a way, we can help both of our businesses and help solve the issues. So what would you have in mind? If that is the case.
Chris: Yeah. I’m very interesting in having a better working relationship with you. Because again, these issues are inconsistent with my business philosophy. And I just want to be able to reduce stress if possible. I would be able to consider working on the noise toward a better relationship. But I need you to stop banging on my wall because that disrupt my business. May be there are better strategies we can improve our relationship. That would kind of help us both change. I just kind of want to you to be a more caring and mindful individual.
Lee: I understand and I appreciate this collaboration. But let me ask you this, I would be willing to stop banging on the wall, if you are also willing to change this odor and work in collaboration in terms of referral and such. But let me ask you this, if I’m actually going to do this. What is the difference between me banging on the wall and you hearing my printing press running all day long. What should I stop banging on the wall, if there is no change is going to be made? Let’s work on a concession together and solve the problem.
Chris: Yeah. You were banging on the wall and saying “stop the hippy music”. So the music is obviously bothering you, correct?
Lee: Correct.
Chris: Like I said. I’m willing to working together to a point where we will keep the noise level bearable for you and still allow us to run our mediation classes.
Lee: I understand. That is a very decent proposition. I’m very inclined to accept it. So if you will be willing to reduce the noise level of the music, and I stop banging on the wall and being mean to you, and we start collaborating and slowly establishing our relationship, you could kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel?
Chris: Yeah. Definitely think our relationship could improve through that. And we can help ourselves grow as a business. I know you have been here for many years but, like you mentioned, you have been facing some struggles. I think we can help you by referring customers to your shop.
Lee: I understand. What is a proper settlement in this case. What do you have in mind so, are we working this in terms of hours? Work hours? Operating hours? How would see this playing out?
Chris: Yeah. So I think in terms of when we are conducting our actual classes, that’s when music has to be a little bit louder just because that’s during class session. So that’s our 9am, 1pm, 4pm class. So if you would allow us to keep the music loud during those three 1-hour class sessions, we will keep the music down for the rest of the day for you.
Lee: That is very decent because, as I told you, given the noise of my printing machinery, this aspect is not so much of a disturbance for me, in terms of the actual work hours. But 4-5pm class time could a little bit problematic for me because this is when the loud music starts covering the noise of the printing press. That’s when I turn it off. Is there some way I can motivate you to restructure your classes or maybe turn of the music for the last class?
Chris: Yeah. We do have some flexibility in terms of our classes. Since we are testing various class schedules, we are able to move a class a little bit later. We are actually considering move one of our classes to evening time after your business operating hour. That would definitely work.
Lee: What would the evening hour be precisely?
Chris: After 5pm.
Lee: Okay. That is decent. But let me ask you this. You said that you are willing to collaborate and help each other’s business. What if during this last class, since my printing machinery stops working pretty much 4pm. What would you say if I actually attend this last evening class that starts at 5. Would you be willing to make another concession, if this would happen and as such I’m willing to help your business by attending the classes?
Chris: Yeah. Definitely. I think that will help you understand our business philosophy and why the music and scent are essential to our meditation classes. I’m definitely open to have you attend our class.
Lee: That’s very appreciative. I don’t know any way that I can reciprocate this. Because by me going to your class, I’m helping by seeing the culture and I’m contributing money to your business. But by doing so, I’m losing it. How can you help me if I’m helping you?
Chris: Yeah. We’re expecting a grow of our business. We are going to need a lot of printing service for our marketing in the near future. We are willing to you your service for that instead of turning to other printing shop.
Lee: That is reasonable and I understand some of the logic behind it. So are you talking about flyers or promotional materials? What kind of printing material would you be interested in making?
Chris: Yeah both flyers and printing posters. So we’re looking for professional courtesy discount. But I’m not sure what would that be like exactly.
Lee: I understand. There is pretty much only one thing preventing me from accepting this. You said the word “discount”, courtesy discount to be precise. So I’m giving you discount, but I’m losing money. What incentive do you have for me in attending this class. Will I be getting discount as well or some sort of referral mechanism that helps my business?
Chris: We actually want to share professional discount. I’m talking about for both of our businesses.
Lee: So my understanding from this is, we will both willing to settle on our point specifically. You will be willing to try out different incenses and find one that I feel more comfortable with. While at the same time, you will be willing to invite me to attend one of your evening classes to see what its for me to understand the culture. Why you need the loud music and so forth. While for me, you will be willing to refer some customers to my business, as well using my printing service for you promotional materials. And we will both be getting courtesy discount from both ends. So when I go to your class, I receive discount. And when you use my printing service, I will be willing to give you some discount. What exactly do you have in mind in terms of the percentage of the discount?
Chris: Yeah. So I’m thinking a 20 percent off discount.
Lee: Would you be willing to go down to 15 percent?
Chris: 15 percent works.
Lee: Okay. Would you be willing to go down to 12.5 percent?
Chris: No. I can only do 15 percent.
Lee: The reason I’m asking for a bigger discount is again, I told you that I have been working in this small business for a very long time and that the evolution of the printing industry is looking as favorable. But what I want you to understand and feel the same as me, is that, recently my daughter gave birth to a gravely ill child, and I desperately want to help her out since she has left her job to take care for her son. So I would really appreciate if the discount could go lower just so I can help the two of them more. What do you say?
Chris: So would the discount for me to use your printing service would be lower as well?
Lee: Yes. That’s what I’m asking for. Would you be willing to go lower than 15 percent? And please understand me. I’m an old man. My children and my grand children are experiencing health problems. And I’m under a lot of stress. So that would be great if you can help me, an old person, out.
Chris: Yeah. We can maybe settle at 13 percent?
Lee: Okay. That is a very reasonable offer. I want to thank you for being understanding my situation. This is a very decent deal. I would be willing to accept it.
Chris: Thank you for sharing all the information with me. And thank you for agreeing to the collaboration. Looking forward to a better future for both of our businesses.
Lee: Thank you. Here is for our great future. Yeah.
Will: Great. I’m glad that we have come to a settlement together. And I would repeat the settlement, which is, First, both parties agree to work together to decrease odor and noise. Lee will help Chris to pick a new scent that is less irritating to Lee. Second, Lee agrees to stop banging on the wall that escalates the conflict. Third: Chris moves the 4-5pm session to 5-6 pm, which is after Lee’s business hour. And Lee will attend the 5-6pm session to learn more about the culture and Chris’ business. Forth, Chris will use Lee’s printing service to print flyers and posters. Fifth, Chris will refer customers to Lee’s printing shop. Last but not least, both parties receive discounts when they use each other’s business services – 13% for classes and promotional prints. Are there any other questions about the settlement?
Lee: No.
Chris: No.
Will: Well. Perfect. I’m glad that we have worked this out smoothly together. Hopefully, you both found the mediation helpful. And good luck on both of your businesses. Here to the bright future!
