Mending fences, building bridges: The effect of relationship by objectives on conflict

Some 24 Relationships by Objectives (RBO) programs conducted by the Education Relations Commission in Ontario were evaluated. An RBO is a form of preventive mediation and applies problem-solving techniques to attempt to reduce such unnecessary conflict as language disputes over grievances, strikes, and the time in negotiations. Mean conflict scores of the RBO boards are compared, before and after RBO, with those of the education sector and a control group of boards. Some evidence is found of a half-life effect for RBO programs since long-run conflict scores returned to pre-RBO levels. However, RBO appears to be effective in reducing conflict as measured by time to reach a settlement and number of grievance arbitrations over language issues.