1 Group Conflict Management. 2 Overview Methods of managing conflict Situational considerations Conflict resolution exercise (Bomb Shelter) Sources of.

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Group Conflict Group Conflict ManagementManagement

2

OverviewOverview

• Methods of managing conflict• Situational considerations• Conflict resolution exercise (Bomb

Shelter)• Sources of conflict• Filley’s Antecedents to Conflict

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METHODS OF MANAGING CONFLICTMETHODS OF MANAGING CONFLICT

• Forcing• Accommodating• Avoiding• Compromising• Collaborating

4

Forcing

High High AssertivenessAssertiveness

Con

cern

for

C

once

rn f

or S

elf

Sel

f

Low Low

AssertivenessAssertiveness

Low CooperationLow Cooperation High CooperationHigh Cooperation

Concern for Concern for OthersOthers

Source: Thomas, K.W. “Conflict and Conflict Management,” In Handbook of Industrial

and Organizational Psychology, ed. M.D. Dunnette. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1976.

FORCINGFORCING

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Forcing

Accommodating


Con

cern

for

C

once

rn f

or S

elf

Sel

f

Low Low






ACCOMMODATINGACCOMMODATING

6

Forcing

Avoiding Accommodating


Con

cern

for

C

once

rn f

or S

elf

Sel

f

Low Low






AVOIDINGAVOIDING

7

Forcing

Compromising



Con

cern

for

C

once

rn f

or S

elf

Sel

f

Low Low






COMPROMISINGCOMPROMISING

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Forcing Collaborating

Compromising



Con

cern

for

C

once

rn f

or S

elf

Sel

f

Low Low






COLLABORATINGCOLLABORATING

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THE BOMB SHELTER EXERCISETHE 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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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SITUATIONAL CONSIDERATIONSSITUATIONAL 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?

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CONFLICT MANAGEMENT TOOLCONFLICT MANAGEMENT TOOL


Con

cern

for

C

once

rn f

or S

elf

Sel

f

Low Low




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CONFLICT SOURCESCONFLICT SOURCES

• Personal Differences

• Informational Deficiencies

• Role Incompatibility

• Environmental Stress

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• Ambiguous jurisdictions Ambiguous jurisdictions

• Conflict of InterestConflict of Interest

• Communications barriersCommunications barriers

• Over-dependency of one Over-dependency of one partyparty

• Differentiation in organizationDifferentiation in organization

Filley’s Antecedents to ConflictFilley’s Antecedents to Conflict

• Association of the Association of the parties parties

• Need for ConsensusNeed for Consensus

• Behavior regulations Behavior regulations

• Unresolved prior Unresolved prior conflictsconflicts

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FOUR STEPS OF CONFLICT FOUR STEPS OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

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

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SummarySummary

• Methods of managing conflict• Situational considerations• Conflict resolution exercise (Bomb

Shelter)• Sources of conflict• Filley’s Antecedents to Conflict

1 Group Conflict Management. 2 Overview Methods of managing conflict Situational considerations Conflict resolution exercise (Bomb Shelter) Sources of.

Documents

conflict slide

accommodating slide

compromising slide

methods of managing

organizational psychology

handbook of industrial

rand mcnally

good health