Conflict Management

Overview Bomb Shelter Exercise Conflict Sources Filley’s Antecedents Conflict Management Styles Situational Considerations Four Steps of Conflict Management

Bomb Shelter Exercise 15 people are in a nuclear bomb shelter after a nuclear attack These 15 are the last on earth It will take 2 wks for radiation levels to reach safe levels Food & supplies can only sustain 7 people for 2 wks Pick the 7 who will survive

1.Dr. Dane. African-American, 35, married, one child (Bobby), no religious affiliation, PhD in history, college professor, good health, active physically, enjoys politics. 2.Mrs. Dane. White, Jewish, 38, BS and MS in psychology, counselor in a mental health clinic, good health, one child (Bobby), active in community activities. 3.Bobby Dane. Mixed white and African American, Jewish, 10, attended special education classes for 4 years, mentally retarded, IQ of 70, good health, enjoys pets. 4.Mrs. Garcia. Hispanic, 33, raised Catholic, 9th grade education, exotic dancer, prostitute, good health, in a foster home as a child, was attacked by foster father at age of 12, ran away from home, returned to reformatory where she stayed until 16, has a child, 3 weeks old (Jean). 5.Jean Garcia. Three weeks old, Hispanic, good health, nursing. Bomb Shelter Exercise 4

6.Mrs. Evans. African-American, 32, Protestant, BA and MA in elementary education, teacher, divorced with one child (Mary), good health, outstanding teacher, enjoys working with children. 7.Mary Evans., African-American, 8, Protestant, 3rd grade, excellent student, good health. 8.John Jacobs. Asian, 13, Protestant, 8th grade, honor student, good health. 9.Mr. Newton. White, 26, atheist, starting last year of medical school, known to have homosexual tendencies, good health, and wears “freaky” clothes. 10.Mrs. Clark. White, 26, Protestant, college graduate in electrical engineering, married, no children, good health, enjoys outdoors sports, grew up in the inner-city. Bomb Shelter Exercise 5

11.Sister Mary Kathleen. A white nun, 35, college graduate, English major, middle-class American, and in good health. 12.Mr. Black. White, 51, Mormon, high school graduate, mechanic, "Mr Fix it," married, and in good health. 13.Miss Harris, Hispanic, 21, Protestant, college senior, nursing major, likes people, good health, enjoys outdoor sports. 14.Father Flanagan. African-American, 37, Catholic, college, seminary experience, priest, active in civil rights activities, criticized for his liberal views, good health, former college athlete. 15.Dr. Lee. Asian-American, 66, MD, general practitioner, has had two heart attacks in the past 5 years, but continues to practice medicine. Bomb Shelter Exercise 6

Conflict Sources Personal Differences – Daily experiences are not judged on a common set of values – Conflicts tend to be emotionally charged – “People-focused” rather than “issue-focused” Informational Deficiencies – Instructions may be interpreted differently – More factual & straightforward – Not about values & do not involve emotions

Conflict Sources Role Incompatibility – Different entities have different goals – A common superior usually has to mediate Environmental Stress – Shortage of resources – Uncertainty

Filley’s Antecedents Ambiguous jurisdictions Conflict of interest Communications barriers Over-dependency of one party Differentiation in organization Association of the parties Need for consensus Behavior regulations Unresolved prior conflicts

Forcing Accommodating Avoiding Compromising Collaborating Conflict Management Styles

Forcing 11 Forcing High HighAssertiveness Concern for Self Low LowAssertiveness Low Cooperation High Cooperation Concern for Others Concern for Others Source: Thomas, K.W. “Conflict and Conflict Management,” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M.D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1976.

Accommodating 12 Forcing Accommodating High HighAssertiveness Concern for Self Low LowAssertiveness Low Cooperation High Cooperation Concern for Others Concern for Others Source: Thomas, K.W. “Conflict and Conflict Management,” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M.D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1976.

Avoiding 13 Forcing Avoiding Accommodating High HighAssertiveness Concern for Self Low LowAssertiveness Low Cooperation High Cooperation Concern for Others Concern for Others Source: Thomas, K.W. “Conflict and Conflict Management,” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M.D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1976.

Compromising 14 Forcing Compromising Avoiding Accommodating High HighAssertiveness Concern for Self Low LowAssertiveness Low Cooperation High Cooperation Concern for Others Concern for Others Source: Thomas, K.W. “Conflict and Conflict Management,” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M.D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1976.

Collaborating 15 Forcing Collaborating Compromising Avoiding Accommodating High HighAssertiveness Concern for Self Low LowAssertiveness Low Cooperation High Cooperation Concern for Others Concern for Others Source: Thomas, K.W. “Conflict and Conflict Management,” In Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, ed. M.D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1976.

Situational Considerations How important is the disputed issue? How important is the relationship? How large is the power gap? How quickly should the parties settle the dispute?

4 Steps of Conflict Management 1.Diagnosing the sources of conflict & circumstances 2.Selecting the appropriate conflict management strategy 3.Implementing the strategy 4.Seeing a conflict through to successful outcome

Summary Bomb Shelter Exercise Conflict Sources Filley’s Antecedents Conflict Management Styles Situational Considerations Four Steps of Conflict Management