Personal Conflict Analysis

COM3621: CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

September 6, 2018

Class Agenda

■  Communication principles ■  Defining conflict ■  Conflict contexts ■  Communication media and conflict

■  Communication is a process that is uniquely created and involves mutual influence and interdependent behaviors

■  Content and relation dimensions ■  Intentional vs. unintentional ■  Irreversible ■  Unrepeatable

Communication Principles

Defining Conflict

■  Conflict is the interaction of interdependent parties who perceive incompatibility and the possibility of interference from others as a result of this incompatibility.

Conflict Interaction

■  Verbal and nonverbal –  Verbal communication ■  Linguistic –  Nonverbal communication ■  Gestures ■  Facial expressions ■  Emoticons

■  Expressed or suppressed

Interdependence

■  The dependence of two or more parties on one another ■  Determines parties’ incentives in a conflict –  Cooperation –  Competition –  Most conflicts involve both cooperation and competition ■  More interdependence = more significant consequences

Incompatibility

■  Being so opposed in character as to be incapable of existing at the same time

■  Perception is key

Conflict Contexts

■  Interpersonal settings ■  Group/team settings ■  Organizational settings ■  Intergroup settings

Interpersonal Settings

■  Uniqueness ■  Irreplaceability ■  Interdependence ■  Disclosure ■  Intrinsic rewards

Interpersonal Settings

■  Family ■  Friends ■  Roommates ■  Co-workers ■  Neighbors

Group/Team Settings

■  Individuals working with one another to come to a common understanding and to make decisions that affect one another to some degree.

Group/Team Settings

■  Families ■  Work teams ■  Group projects for a class ■  Social groups ■  Clubs and sports teams ■  Support/therapeutic groups

Organizational Settings

■  An organization coordinates the behaviors of its members so they can work collectively

■  Context for interpersonal and group conflicts ■  Organizations constrain conflict behavior ■  Organizational conflicts may have implications for the

organization as a whole

Organizational Settings

■  Academic institutions ■  Non-profits ■  Private companies ■  Government agencies

Intergroup Settings

■  Focuses on individuals as representatives of social groups rather than unique individuals

■  Relationships among teams, groups, organizations ■  Relationships among groups defined by social categories of

race, ethnicity, gender identity, class

Commonalities Across Settings

■  Interaction [communication] processes form the foundation of conflict management in interpersonal relationships, groups, organizations, and between groups

–  Outcomes are affected by actions and reactions; communication strategies; perceptions and interpretations

Communication Media & Conflict Interaction ■  Media richness theory – Media vary in terms of their ability

to transmit information that will change understanding in others

■  Richness depends on a medium’s ability to: –  Handle multiple information cues simultaneously –  Facilitate rapid feedback –  Personalize the message –  Utilize natural language