The College Gets Its Act Together: Cutting the Costs of Disputes in Organizations

Abstract

This case is framed around the personal experience of a faculty member whose dispute with supervisors lead to the resignation of a chair, the eventual firing of a dean, and the loss of good will with key community stakeholders. It focuses on the analysis of an internal grievance process that brings the student to two decision points, namely, (a) what shortcomings exist in the current internal grievance process and (b) what changes should be made to make them fairer and more effective? The case briefly addresses and illustrates the foundational skills of dispute resolution and mediation designed to resolve conflicts efficiently and fairly at the lowest cost.