The ancient Silk Road was a major channel for the exchange of commodities and ideas. People interacted along the Road, passing goods and knowledge from one local network to the next. Commodities and ideas traveled back and forth, perhaps returning to the point of origin in a modified and enhanced form, thereby broadening networks of innovation along the Road. In the same way, knowledge of dispute resolution processes has flowed in a multidirectional, non-linear fashion across global networks, resulting in the modification of local processes and practices along the way. This paper highlights the interplay between indigenous and imported dispute resolution processes applied to employment relations issues in Sri Lanka, an emerging economy with a confrontational industrial relations climate. Research and managerial implications are discussed.