5. • CONFLICT
Is a process that begins when one party perceives that another
party has negatively affected, or is about to negatively affect,
something that the first party cares about.
DEFINITION
6. A process in which two or more parties exchange goods or
services and attempt to agree on the exchange rate for
them.
• NEGOTIATIONS
DEFINITION
12. TRANSITIONS IN CONFLICT THOUGHT
Integrationists View of Conflict
The belief that conflict is not only a positive force in a
group but that it is absolutely necessary for a group to
perform effectively.
38. Third-Party Negotiations
Mediator
A neutral third party who facilitates a negotiated
solution by using reasoning, persuasion, and
suggestions for alternatives.
Arbitrator
A third party to a negotiation
who has the authority to
dictate an agreement.
39. Third-Party Negotiations (cont’d)
Consultant
An impartial third party, skilled in
conflict management, who attempts
to facilitate creative problem
solving through communication and
analysis.
Conciliator
A trusted third party who provides an
informal communication link between
the negotiator and the opponent.
41. Shirley and Abdul both work for a software development company.
The manager of the new product division was originally the leader of
the project team for which she interviewed and hired Abdul. Shirley,
another project team member, also interviewed Abdul, but strongly
opposed hiring him for the project because she thought he was not
competent to do the job.
Seven months after Abdul was hired, the manager left the project to
start her own company and recommended that Abdul and Shirley
serve as joint project leaders. Shirley agreed reluctantly? With the
stipulation that it be made clear she was not working for Abdul. The
General Manager consented; Shirley and Abdul were to share the
project leadership. Within a month Shirley was angry because Abdul
was representing himself to others as the leader of the entire project
and giving the impression that Shirley was working for him. Now
Shirley and Abdul are meeting with you to see if you can resolve the
conflict between them.
42. Shirley says: "Right after the joint leadership arrangement was reached
with the General Manager, Abdul called a meeting of the project team
without even consulting me about the time or content. He just told me
when it was being held and said I should be there. At the meeting, Abdul
reviewed everyone's duties line by line, including mine, treating me as
just another team member working for him. He sends out letters and
signs himself as project director, which obviously implies to others that I
am working for him.“
Abdul says: "Shirley is all hung up with feelings of power and titles. Just
because I sign myself as project director doesn't mean she is working for
me. I don't see anything to get excited about. What difference does it
make? She is too sensitive about everything. I call a meeting and right
away she thinks I'm trying to run everything. Shirley has other things to
do? Other projects to run? so she doesn't pay too much attention to this
one. She mostly lets things slide. But when I take the initiative to set up a
meeting, she starts jumping up and down about how I am trying to make
her work for me."
43. • Abdul and Shirley seem to have several conflicts occurring simultaneously.
Identify as many of these individual conflicts as possible.
• What are the possible ways to deal with the conflict between Abdul and
Shirley (not just the ones that you would recommend, but all of the options)?
• What could or should have been done to avoid this conflict in the first place?
QUESTIONS
45. SOLUTION SUMMARY
In this case scenario there are several issues
between Shirley and Abdul. First and foremost,
Shirley feels that Abdul is incompetent, thus her
perceptions of his capabilities are skewed and
there is a lack of respect to begin with. Shirley
also seems to have an issue with titles and
placement of authority (as Abdul mentions in his
summation of the conflict).
46. SOLUTION SUMMARY
Possible way to deal with the situation is to clearly define the
responsibilities to be performed by the two.
Both should work within set boundaries without interfering in other’s
matters or tasks and collaborating with each other .
Both should write Co – Project Director as designation with them.
Thereby indicating to all concerned that the project is not a show of
a single person.
Shirley should give due attention to this project as well, or if not
possible then leave it to be handled singularly by Abdul .
Both should be accommodating to the suggestion / changes
suggested by each other while doing the project.
47. SOLUTION SUMMARY
In order to avoid the conflict in first place following
could have been done :-
Both should have avoided to create the issue.
Both should have accommodated each other in running
the project.
Management should have used Authoritative command to
settle the issue at the start .
Independent tasks, goals and objectives could have been
given to them to avoid conflict and increase efficiency of
Abdul and Shirley.
Smoothing should have be carried out by Management to
play down the differences between the two developing and
surfacing in the initial stages of project.