Tricia S. Jones, Temple University, copyright protect, March 2006 Goals in Conflict Desired outcomes of a conflict Desired outcomes of a conflict Change through conflict interaction Change through conflict interaction Goal clarity necessary for effective conflict management Goal clarity necessary for effective conflict management People usually have multiple goals People usually have multiple goals Goals may conflict causing confusion and internal tension Goals may conflict causing confusion and internal tension

Tricia S. Jones, Temple University, copyright protect, March 2006 Advantages of Goal Clarity Solutions go unrecognized if you do not know what you want Solutions go unrecognized if you do not know what you want Batnas go unrecognized if you do not know what you want Batnas go unrecognized if you do not know what you want Only clear goals can be shared Only clear goals can be shared Clear goals can be altered more easily than unclear goals Clear goals can be altered more easily than unclear goals Clear goals are achieved more often than unclear goals Clear goals are achieved more often than unclear goals

Tricia S. Jones, Temple University, copyright protect, March 2006 Prospective Goals Goals that are made explicit, either publicly or privately, before the conflict interaction takes place Goals that are made explicit, either publicly or privately, before the conflict interaction takes place –Serve as a direction, guidelines –Not written in stone, changeable –Mager and Pipes suggestions for establishing prospective goals Write them down Write them down Write down ways you would know the goal has been achieved Write down ways you would know the goal has been achieved Prioritize Prioritize

Tricia S. Jones, Temple University, copyright protect, March 2006 Transactive Goals These are goals that develop during the conflict interaction These are goals that develop during the conflict interaction –Result from exchange of information in the conflict interaction –May be extensions of prospective goals or completely new –Can overshadow prospective goals, which may be strategically disadvantageous

Tricia S. Jones, Temple University, copyright protect, March 2006 Retrospective Goals Goals that develop after the conflict interaction Goals that develop after the conflict interaction –Are often explanatory –Are often justifying what has been done, face- saving –May be relatively inaccurate in terms of what actually happened in the interaction –Have most impact on coloring future interactions

Tricia S. Jones, Temple University, copyright protect, March 2006 Content v. Relationship Goals Content goals concern substantive issues Content goals concern substantive issues Relationship goals concern relationship definition, rules, direction Relationship goals concern relationship definition, rules, direction –All conflicts involve both, but with different emphasis –Both types influence each other –Repetitive conflicts are often relational issues masked as content issues –High power disputants often focus on content, low power disputants focus on relationship

Tricia S. Jones, Temple University, copyright protect, March 2006 Guidelines for Goal Setting The more specific the better The more specific the better Orient toward future, not present or past Orient toward future, not present or past Revise out-of-date goals Revise out-of-date goals Develop mutual goals if possible Develop mutual goals if possible Seek input on realistic, attainable nature of goals from trusted information or outsiders Seek input on realistic, attainable nature of goals from trusted information or outsiders