Unresolved problems in companies cost a great deal of money. Business mediation offers a new model for companies wishing to reduce the costs of conflict, reinforce partnerships and improve their business results. Business mediation can be used in almost all the escalation stages of a conflict and also lead to success when used preventatively.

Difficulties with suppliers and customers, problems between employees or departments, conflicts in the case of mergers and succession arrangements or restructuring measures – a previously objective discussion can rapidly become charged with emotion. Corporate, economic or personal interests usually lurk behind most conflicts. The options offered by business mediation allow conflicts of this kind to be analysed at an early stage and dealt with and resolved in a manner that takes account of the interests of all parties, is inexpensive and saves time. The aim is to resolve a conflict permanently to the satisfaction of all those involved and to facilitate increased cooperation.

The Volksbank Group has been committed to the use of business mediation for several years. Starting from a successful pilot project “Credit Mediation” launched by Volksbank Graz-Bruck, the development of expertise in mediation within the Volksbank Group via several tracks is part of the Corporate Responsibility project. In 2010, Österreichische Volksbanken-AG again partnered the “International Summer School on Business Mediation (ISBM)” and commissioned the study on the “Costs of Conflict in Family Companies”. In 2010, Österreichische Volksbanken-AG also launched a pilot course “Business Mediation and Mediative Competences”, which will provide mediator training to management staff.

On 2 May, Volksbank AG invited customers to its forum “Corporate culture as a factor in success – constructive solutions with business mediation”. VBAG has used business mediation since 2008, making it the first European banking group to do so, and has set up an innovative corporate responsibility project as part of this. Business mediation offers a new model for customers, partners and employees, allowing them to improve cooperation, cut the cost of conflict, achieve better financial results and generally have a positive impact on the corporate culture. Whether and how all this can be achieved was discussed by well-known representatives from the fields of business, law, science and mediation.

Customers and partners attended keynote presentations given by Ulrike Gamm (graduate geographer), Dr Christine Mattl, Dr Annemarie Stipanitz-Schreiner (engineer), Christian Wozabal, MBA, Johann Garstenauer and Dr Mario Patera (graduate engineer). The lecturers shone a light on the issue of corporate culture from very different perspectives. After the short theoretical input sessions, customers, partners and customer relationship managers had the opportunity to hold discussions and exchange experiences in small groups. The lecturers highlighted the preventive effect of mediation skills, which enable managers and professionals to bring conflicting parties back into constructive talks in order to create a productive working atmosphere.

In the field of corporate finance in particular, it is important to use mediation skills to recognise critical situations at an early stage, emphasised Dr Gerhard Reiner, Chairman of the Managing Board of Volksbank Graz-Bruck. Guests learned first-hand how Volksbank Graz-Bruck managed to reduce costs and thus to achieve measurable success using mediation techniques. At the subsequent networking event in the atrium of VBAG’s new customer centre, the quality of the stimulus talks was emphasised, which had provided helpful input for everyday work and some interesting food for thought.