Experimental evaluation of logrolling as an effective mediating tactic in construction project management

Construction projects are prone to have disputes. Mediation has gained wide acceptance and is an integral part of the dispute settlement provisions in most of the standard forms of construction contract in Hong Kong. In mediation, the parties are encouraged to achieve maximum joint gains through making integrative concession on issues of low substitute rate and high welfare rate. Logrolling is identified as a mediating tactic whereby a mediator assists the disputing parties to improve joint value in bargaining exchanges and get convergence along the efficient frontier. Based on this conceptualization, a web-based mock mediation experiment that incorporates a logrolling system had been developed. Thirty experiments with practicing construction professionals were conducted. The results support the hypothesis that accepting the mediator's suggestion can achieve greater joint value, make greater integrative concessions, reduce substitute rate and enhance welfare rate in bargaining exchange, than those rejecting the mediator's suggestion.

► Evaluation criteria: Concession rate, joint value, substitute rate, welfare rate. ► Logrolling can achieve great joint value in mediation bargaining exchange. ► Logrolling can make great integrative concessions. ► Logrolling can attain low substitute rate and high welfare rate. ► Experiment indicates that logrolling can work as an effective mediating tactic.