Other topics
8. Dealing with disputes and complaints
Every society has ways to protect peace and order, impose sanctions and punishment, and resolve disputes. Doing this well and in a fair manner is an important part of good governance.
What is the right, fair or proper way to resolve disputes and grievances differs between societies, communities and organisations?
Indigenous Australians and their organisations often have to negotiate between two different ways of settling disputes and grievances:
- they have to operate under western laws of incorporation which spell out legally what a conflict is (e.g. conflict of interest) or a grievance (e.g. about an election process), and the specific procedures that must be followed (e.g. appeals, complaint and audit procedures)
- they also operate under Indigenous culture, in which relationships and networks may have very different values about what a dispute or grievance is, and how to deal with them
This chapter contains the following topics:
Also:
- Resource 8.1 Tool—Conflict analysis
- Resource 8.2 Tips—Managing controversy or disputes in meetings
- Resource 8.3 Tips—Managing issue-based conflict
- Resource 8.4 Tips—Managing personality-based conflict
- Resource 8.5 Tool—Solving the dispute as a group
- Resource 8.6 Quiz
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'Misunderstanding and misinformation is a major contributor to conflict'. Bauman, T. 2007. 'You mob all agree?' The Chronic Emergency of Culturally Competent Engaged Indigenous Problem Solving, Indigenous Law Bulletin 6 (29) |
Read next: 8.1 Disputes about governance
Read previous: 7.2 Managing staff