I’m often asked about my career change from Engineering to Dispute Resolution, and while on the surface the two fields of study may not seem to share much in common, I’ve found their relationship to be quite the opposite. In today's post, I wanted to explore how elements of the engineering approach can be a valuable asset to the Dispute Resolution Practitioner’s tool belt.
The most important lesson I learned in engineering was how to analyze. Engineering, similar to conflict resolution, is an exercise in problem-solving. It offers a methodological approach that attempts to break problems down into smaller, more manageable parts; reinforces the idea that addressing the symptoms may not address the more important underlying issue; and that if the goal is to create durable, lasting solutions, we need to focus our attention on understanding what is truly driving the problem.
Clearly, as we move from solving technical problems towards interpersonal conflict, Newton’s Laws need to be swapped for more suitable tools of analysis (although arguably they too can be translated to conflict behaviour – maybe an article for a later time). However, disregarding an engineering approach entirely would be a mistake.
Elements of this measured and pragmatic approach lend themselves wonderfully to conflict resolution. I’ve found the engineering mindset useful as a pseudo-framework to ground the principle of “approaching conflict with curiosity”. It reminds me to explore a dispute through a process of open-minded discovery and perspective taking, always keeping an eye out for words and motivations that might be contributing to the overall dispute.
An analytical approach can help construct a rough mental image of the conflict, showing gaps in knowledge, identifying threads worth exploring deeper, and unearthing questions that might hold insight. Which angles might uncover new understanding? What type of dynamic is driving the dispute: structural, personal, power, or something else entirely? Is the superficial position pointing to something deeper?
As with any approach to conflict resolution, the engineering framework has its limitations. Becoming cemented in any perspective may mean missing valuable information, but nevertheless, it certainly has something to offer. Its emphatic focus on analysis, and solutions that address the root of the problem, form a valuable addition to the dispute resolution toolbox.
So even though conflict resolution and engineering appear unrelated on the surface, when combined, they have the potential to produce great results.
Next week: How the Engineering and Tech industry can benefit from dispute resolution and conflict management
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