Employment Conflict Management Concepts Worksheet

Concept

Application of Concept in Scenario

Citation of Concept in Reading

Personal Experience in your Organization

Workplace Conflict A condition between or among workers whose jobs are interdependent, who feel angry, who perceive the other(s) as being at fault, and who act in ways that cause a business problem.

Workplace conflict is apparent in this scenario. Conflict arises from Mr. Bodkin being laid off simply because he puts the spotlight of truth on the practices of the age-adverse, and how Munger wanting to feed his aged parents. There are many ways that employers can help employees deal with the conflicts that arise between work and outside caretaking obligations, or accommodating minor schedule changes to recognize the need for diabetics to eat, or for those with arthritis to move their joints.

Dana, 2001 p. 5

Workplace conflicts are the cost of doing business. As a director of HR and Shared Services, I see them every day. Its just a matter of how they are dealt with.

Power Imbalances

If one party has more power than the other, the conflict is unbalanced; many of the choices the parties then make are attempts to alter these imbalances.

Accord and Munger are in disagreement over the new policy over frequent absences from the office. Dennis needs to tend to his elderly parents for an hour everyday, which goes against the policy requiring approval by Stan in advance. Dennis does not understand why he has to change his normal routine just because there is a new Clerk of Court who is making him feel like he is being mistreated.

Wilmot−Hocker, 2007, p. 115

I have few issues with power imbalances within my department. Recently, Japan sent a replacement president to implement cost cutting measures at all cost. Conflicts arise concerning resources and oftentimes rejected by the new president, causing conflicts to become unbalanced.

Avoidance and Culture

Whether avoidance is productive or destructive generally depends on the cultural contexts. Cultures differ in their valuing of avoidance.

When one avoids, the implicit social hierarchy is reinforced-so avoidance makes sure the social bonds are not disrupted.

The County Clerk's culture consists of older workers, much older than Stan Accord.

Accord avoided dealing with these older workers with lay-offs for those with the average age of 50, which made it appear he was targeting the older employees because they sought job flexibility to care for aging parents. This caused the National Association for Aged Americans (NAAA) to announce that a street rally will be held to support Munger, who the NAAA believes was originally targeted.

Wilmot−Hocker, 2007, p. 140

I work for a Japanese owned company and we

Often face culture differences. The Japanese do avoid conflict in order to preserve congeniality and consensus and out of sensitivity to others' feelings but it appears at times they do talk behind our backs and a few even believe that Americans are not the brightest bunch when it comes to business.

Competition - "A competitive, or "power over," style that is characterized by aggressive and uncooperative

behavior-pursuing your own concerns at the expense of another."

Dennis Munger and Stan Accord both ran for the County Clerk position, which have different views on how to manage the department. Once elected, Munger will continue to manage the Coastal County Clerk of Court the same way as the previous, continuing Art Brewer's legacy, while Accord will focus on efficiency, responsiveness, technology, and on CFO duties that have long been ignored. Both are competitive but Stan Accord won the election and started his sweeping changes and Munger is not willing to adjust to them. He is claiming age discrimination, causing a conflict within the office.

Wilmot−Hocker, 2007, p. 145

At times, I notice competition at my work when a position opens up and certain employees feel that they are a fit for the job and the battle begins.

Collaboration involves making descriptive and disclosing statements and soliciting disclosure and criticism from the other party. One makes concessions when necessary and accepts responsibility for one's own part in the conflict.

Collaboration is a struggle with the other to find mutually agreeable solutions. Parties engage at an exploratory, problem-solving level rather than avoiding or destroying each other.

Conflict spills into the street as picketer's signs display vehement messages against Stan Accord, showing their discontent. In collaboration with the County Commission, Accord will conduct a meeting to explain his position and answer resident questions.

Wilmot−Hocker, 2007, p. 162

Collaboration seems to be commonplace in my HR department on a weekly basis. A complaint is filed and we try to figure out a way to get it resolved.