1 Group Conflict Management

2 Overview Methods of managing conflict Situational considerations Conflict resolution exercise (Bomb Shelter) Sources of conflict Filley’s Antecedents to Conflict

3 METHODS OF MANAGING CONFLICT Forcing Accommodating Avoiding Compromising Collaborating

4 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, FORCING

5 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, ACCOMMODATING

6 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, AVOIDING

7 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, COMPROMISING

8 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, COLLABORATING

9 THE BOMB SHELTER EXERCISE 15 people are in nuclear bomb shelter after a nuclear attack has occurred These 15 people are the only humans left alive on earth It will take two weeks for the radiation level to subside to a safe level Food and supplies can sustain seven people for two weeks The decision as to who will survive must be unanimous ONLY SEVEN PEOPLE CAN SURVIVE IN THIS SITUATION!

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.

13 SITUATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS How important is the disputed issue? How important is the relationship? How large is the power gap? How quickly must the parties settle the dispute?

14 CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TOOL High HighAssertiveness Concern for Self Low LowAssertiveness Low Cooperation High Cooperation Concern for Others Concern for Others

15 CONFLICT SOURCES Personal Differences Informational Deficiencies Role Incompatibility Environmental Stress

16 Ambiguous jurisdictionsAmbiguous jurisdictions Conflict of InterestConflict of Interest Communications barriersCommunications barriers Over-dependency of one partyOver-dependency of one party Differentiation in organizationDifferentiation in organization Filley’s Antecedents to Conflict Association of the partiesAssociation of the parties Need for ConsensusNeed for Consensus Behavior regulationsBehavior regulations Unresolved prior conflictsUnresolved prior conflicts

17 FOUR STEPS OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT 1. Diagnosing the sources of conflict and circumstances surrounding it 2. Selecting the appropriate conflict management strategy 3. Implementing the strategy 4. Seeing a conflict through to successful outcome

18 Summary Methods of managing conflict Situational considerations Conflict resolution exercise (Bomb Shelter) Sources of conflict Filley’s Antecedents to Conflict