R. Hebdon et M. Mazerolle, MENDING FENCES, BUILDING BRIDGES - THE EFFECT OF RELATIONSHIP BY OBJECTIVES ON CONFLICT, Relations industrielles, 50(1), 1995, pp. 164-185
This paper evaluates twenty-four Relationships by Objectives (RBO) pro
grams conducted by the Education Relations Commission in Ontario. RBO,
a form of preventive mediation, applies problem-solving techniques to
attempt to reduce such unnecessary conflict as language disputes over
grievances, strikes, and the time in negotiations. Mean conflict scor
es 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 confli
ct scores returned to pre-RBO levels. However, RBO appears to be effec
tive in reducing conflict as measured by time to reach a settlement an
d number of grievance arbitrations over language issues. By examining
school boards where RBO had a negative impact, some possible causes of
failure are identified and appropriate recommendations made.