Toward a research roadmap for construction mediation

• Author: Deniz Ilter, Pinar Irlayici Cakmak, Yaprak Arici Ustuner, Elcin Tas
• Position: Department of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
• Pages: 176-190

Toward a research roadmap

for construction mediation

Deniz Ilter

Department of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

Pinar Irlayici Cakmak

Department of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

Yaprak Arici Ustuner

Department of Architecture, Fatih Sultan Mehmet University, Istanbul,

Turkey, and

Elcin Tas

Department of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to outline the state-of-the-art and research contributions in the

construction mediation domain to determine whether existing research is compatible with a future

scenario envisioning a wider adoption and more systemised use of mediation in the construction

industry and to develop a research agenda based on key challenges facing mediation.

Design/methodology/approach – A systematic procedure based on keywords was adopted for the

selection of relevant research contributions in the area, and a meta-classication framework has been

designed based on independent classications of the content, method and authorship to analyse the

publications.

Findings – Research contributions in the past decade mostly focused on perceptions of professionals

on mediation and the dynamics of the mediation process and mediator tactics. Based on the challenges

identied, proposed research agenda includes court-connected mediation, mediation in public projects,

project mediation, documentation of case studies of mediation applications and use of IT in mediation.

Research limitations/implications – The publications investigated in this study are limited to

scholarly articles published in the mainstream construction management journals and can be expanded

to books or articles published in law journals if required.

Originality/value – Existing literature includes important contributions regarding many aspects of

construction mediation, however, a holistic agenda is lacking to overcome the key challenges to the

widespread use of mediation in the construction sector. The research directions presented in this paper

is expected to contribute to the proliferation of the neglected areas and constitute the basis for the

development of a research roadmap in the construction mediation domain.

Keywords Literature review, Construction industry, Research agenda, Mediation,

Alternative dispute resolution, Research roadmap

Paper type General review

Introduction

The construction industry is a complex and competitive environment that involves

discrete pieces of work items to be integrated by several participants from different

disciplines, each having different goals and needs, and each expecting to maximise its

own benets. Because of differences in the perception of works, conicting goals among

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

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IJLBE

8,2

176

Received 5 February 2016

Accepted 8 March 2016

InternationalJournal of Law in the

BuiltEnvironment

Vol.8 No. 2, 2016

pp.176-190

©Emerald Group Publishing Limited

1756-1450

DOI 10.1108/IJLBE-02-2016-0003