Group Conflict Management

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

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

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

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

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

9. 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 THE BOMB SHELTER EXERCISE ONLY SEVEN PEOPLE CAN SURVIVE IN THIS SITUATION!

10. Dr. Dane. African-American, 35, married, one child (Bobby), no religious affiliation, PhD in history, college professor, good health, active physically, enjoys politics. 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. 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. 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). Jean Garcia. Three weeks old, Hispanic, good health, nursing.

11. 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. Mary Evans., African-American , 8, Protestant, 3rd grade, excellent student, good health. John Jacobs. Asian, 13, Protestant, 8th grade, honor student, good health. Mr. Newton. White, 26, atheist, starting last year of medical school, known to have homosexual tendencies, good health, and wears “freaky” clothes. 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. Sister Mary Kathleen. A white nun, 35, college graduate, English major, middle-class American, and in good health. Mr. Black. White, 51, Mormon, high school graduate, mechanic, "Mr Fix it," married, and in good health. Miss Harris, Hispanic, 21, Protestant, college senior, nursing major, likes people, good health, enjoys outdoor sports. 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. 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. High Assertiveness Low Assertiveness CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TOOL Concern for Self Concern for Others Low Cooperation High Cooperation

15. CONFLICT SOURCES • Personal Differences • Informational Deficiencies • Role Incompatibility • Environmental Stress

16. Filley’s Antecedents to Conflict • Association of the parties • Need for Consensus • Behavior regulations • Unresolved prior conflicts • Ambiguous jurisdictions • Conflict of Interest • Communications barriers • Over-dependency of one party • Differentiation in organization

17. FOUR STEPS OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT • Diagnosing the sources of conflict and circumstances surrounding it • Selecting the appropriate conflict management strategy • Implementing the strategy • 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