Process & Communication
Revised 10/11/06
Conflict Resolution and Non-Compliance
While conflict is not a problem per se, indeed it is a normal and healthy part of community life, non-compliance can become a serious problem. We define non-compliance as a member repeatedly not honoring or following one or more of our agreements. In practice this will usually involve the Interpersonal Agreements, Communication Skills Guidelines, and Conflict Resolution Guidelines not being followed. As conflicts between sincere parties can presumably be resolved by following those agreements and guidelines, conflicts that remain unresolved probably involve one or more parties not following those particular agreements and guidelines in good faith.
In general, this process of conflict resolution works in the following steps, which should resolve conflicts where the parties are sincere and making good faith efforts.
Further Steps
If a member is in one or more conflicts with others that cannot be resolved with the process above, or if a number of similar conflicts occur with someone such that a pattern seems to be present, the Process & Communication team may decide to call an Accountability Task Force (ATF). The Accountability Task Force will be established by the Process & Communication team to work only on a specific situation, and will not function as an ongoing team. It will be composed of some members of the Process & Communication team, plus other members who have been involved with the issue or whom the Process & Communication team feels would help add balance, and who are reasonably acceptable to the parties involved.
The Accountability Task Force would serve independently of any other team, and would establish a constructive channel of communication when a member is repeatedly in conflict or breaking community agreements. The Accountability Task Force would not be called in unless attempts at conflict resolution were unproductive.
The formation of an ATF is community knowledge, including who are on it and the general issues and members involved. This alerts the community that a serious issue is being addressed, and anyone with input on those issues will be encouraged to approach the ATF. The ATF is expected to operate with discretion, and to protect the privacy of its discussions to the extent that it can while fulfilling its mission, although it may share necessary information with the Steering team, the Process & Communication team, or other teams.
ATF Goals and Process
When formed, the ATF will work expediently to achieve the following goals:
Although the ATF does not have power to compel anyone to do anything, all members are expected to respond favorably to a request from the ATF to have a conversation about their involvement in an issue brought before the group and to make a good faith effort to work cooperatively with the group to find a mutually agreeable solution to the issues. The ATF may decide to use one or more persons (who may or may not be members of the ATF and are reasonably acceptable to all parties) to facilitate parts of this process. This may involve seeking help outside the community membership.
If All Else Fails
If these efforts fail to resolve an issue, or if the problem persists or reappears, the ATF and/or the Process & Communication team can decide to bring the issue to a special Community Meeting, where the entire community would be fully informed of all aspects of the history of the situation, hear from and ask questions of the member in question and others, and discuss what actions to take. ATF and/or the Process & Communication team would facilitate this meeting, which would be open only to members, with the possible exception of any outside facilitators that have been working on the particular issue.
Revised 10/11/06
Conflict Resolution and Non-Compliance
While conflict is not a problem per se, indeed it is a normal and healthy part of community life, non-compliance can become a serious problem. We define non-compliance as a member repeatedly not honoring or following one or more of our agreements. In practice this will usually involve the Interpersonal Agreements, Communication Skills Guidelines, and Conflict Resolution Guidelines not being followed. As conflicts between sincere parties can presumably be resolved by following those agreements and guidelines, conflicts that remain unresolved probably involve one or more parties not following those particular agreements and guidelines in good faith.
In general, this process of conflict resolution works in the following steps, which should resolve conflicts where the parties are sincere and making good faith efforts.
- The parties in conflict try to work it out together.
- They may go to a team that has authority over the issue for help.
- The parties or team may go to the Process & Communication team, or the issue may become apparent publicly to the Process & Communication team.
- Members of the Process & Communication team will talk to each party to evaluate what might help, such as mediation or facilitated dialogue.
- Process & Communication team members or their appointees facilitate the mediation or dialogue.
- At some point, the content of the conflict may reveal a need for changes or a decision regarding a policy, agreement, etc. by a team or the entire community.
Further Steps
If a member is in one or more conflicts with others that cannot be resolved with the process above, or if a number of similar conflicts occur with someone such that a pattern seems to be present, the Process & Communication team may decide to call an Accountability Task Force (ATF). The Accountability Task Force will be established by the Process & Communication team to work only on a specific situation, and will not function as an ongoing team. It will be composed of some members of the Process & Communication team, plus other members who have been involved with the issue or whom the Process & Communication team feels would help add balance, and who are reasonably acceptable to the parties involved.
The Accountability Task Force would serve independently of any other team, and would establish a constructive channel of communication when a member is repeatedly in conflict or breaking community agreements. The Accountability Task Force would not be called in unless attempts at conflict resolution were unproductive.
The formation of an ATF is community knowledge, including who are on it and the general issues and members involved. This alerts the community that a serious issue is being addressed, and anyone with input on those issues will be encouraged to approach the ATF. The ATF is expected to operate with discretion, and to protect the privacy of its discussions to the extent that it can while fulfilling its mission, although it may share necessary information with the Steering team, the Process & Communication team, or other teams.
ATF Goals and Process
When formed, the ATF will work expediently to achieve the following goals:
- Gather information and clarify the specifics of the problem and its causes.
- Put this understanding of the situation in front of the person(s) involved so they are clear about the effects of their behavior.
- Support people affected by the behavior as necessary.
- Restore harmony.
Although the ATF does not have power to compel anyone to do anything, all members are expected to respond favorably to a request from the ATF to have a conversation about their involvement in an issue brought before the group and to make a good faith effort to work cooperatively with the group to find a mutually agreeable solution to the issues. The ATF may decide to use one or more persons (who may or may not be members of the ATF and are reasonably acceptable to all parties) to facilitate parts of this process. This may involve seeking help outside the community membership.
If All Else Fails
If these efforts fail to resolve an issue, or if the problem persists or reappears, the ATF and/or the Process & Communication team can decide to bring the issue to a special Community Meeting, where the entire community would be fully informed of all aspects of the history of the situation, hear from and ask questions of the member in question and others, and discuss what actions to take. ATF and/or the Process & Communication team would facilitate this meeting, which would be open only to members, with the possible exception of any outside facilitators that have been working on the particular issue.