Mediation and Conflict Management in Agile Practice

What you'll learn

• Diagnose Conflict Dimensions: Accurately identify four dimensions of conflict—distinguishing task and process disputes from relational and status issues. 

• Conduct Rapid Risk Screening: Apply the STOP / SCREEN / SELECT framework to evaluate risk and choose the proper course of action. 

• Identify Red Flags: Recognize safety limits and red flags to know when to step back from informal mediation and safely transfer cases to HR, HSE, Compliance, or Legal. 

• Master the 90-Second Opening: Structure sessions clearly by setting roles, ground rules, voluntary participation, and practical boundaries of confidentiality. 

• Use De-escalation Language: Master neutral reframing to convert mutual accusations into constructive queries about core interests and objective criteria. 

• Map Negotiation Dynamics: Practice preparing comprehensive negotiation maps (Interests, Options, Objective Criteria, BATNA, WATNA, ZOPA). 

• Draft Actionable Agreements: Secure lasting resolution through a Definition of Agreement that includes clear responsibilities, success metrics, deadlines, and fallback paths. 

• Engage in Practical Simulations: Participate in the “Release Helios” simulation with rotating roles, receive feedback grounded in observation rubrics, and re-run critical scenarios using Rewind & Retry. 

• Drive Long-term Adoption: Design a 14- and 30-day implementation experiment, evaluated alongside an implementation partner and during an online follow-up clinic (D+30). 

Who is this course for

This workshop is designed for leaders handling day-to-day friction across teams, departments, or stakeholder boundaries: 

• Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, Leaders, and Managers looking to defuse conflicts safely without taking sides or bending facts. 

• Product Owners and Professionals at the Business-Tech Boundary balancing conflicting priorities, high expectations, and delivery pressure. 

• HR Business Partners and Facilitators supporting teams in resolving operational, interpersonal, and project-level friction. 

Topics covered

Conflict Diagnosis & Risk Screening 

• Alignment contract, initial diagnosis, and psychological safety guidelines. 

• Four dimensions of conflict: Task, Process, Relational, and Status. 

• Assessing situations for mediation vs. managerial decision, facilitation, or formal pathways (HR/Compliance). 

De-escalation, Process Language & Negotiation Mapping 

• De-escalation techniques: Active listening, paraphrasing, neutral questioning, and reframing. 

• Building negotiation maps: Moving from positions to interests, options, criteria, and BATNA / WATNA / ZOPA analysis. 

Mediation Process Architecture & Live Demonstration 

• Step-by-step walkthrough: From the 90-second opening and exploration to reality testing and formalizing agreement. 

• Trainer fishbowl demonstration with process decision commentary against the evaluation rubric. 

“Release Helios” Simulation, Retest & Transfer 

• Group practice: Facilitating a Product Owner vs. Developers dispute, featuring role rotation and the Rewind & Retry process. 

• Formulating a viable Definition of Agreement or executing a justified exit/referral. 

• Outcome validation and creation of a 30-day workplace implementation plan