Conflict Management & Dispute Resolution Report
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
Introduction and Conflict Theory
Week #3 2022/23
Introduction and Conflict Theory
Conflict Theory; Functional and Dysfunctional Conflict; Task and Relationship Conflict, Types of Conflict; Conflict continuum
Conflict Management / Dispute Resolution
The UK government’s approach
Game theory
Blackboard:
2 discussion threads; weblinks; workbook
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
Lecture format
Spark interest
Provide references
Urls [lots]
Papers [2, but…]
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
From War-War to Jaw-Jaw
Wikinomics
how mass collaboration changes everything
http://www.wikinomics.com/book
How people come together to preserve their collective resources
Nobel Prize 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/oct/12/nobel-economics-prize-elinor-ostrom
The UK Government’s approach
The Dispute Resolution Commitment (DRC) requires government departments and agencies to be proactive in the management of disputes, and to use effective, proportionate and appropriate forms of dispute resolution to avoid expensive legal costs or court actions.
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
What is Conflict
Conflict is an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce rewards, and interference from the other parties in achieving their goals.
Conflict is natural and inevitable. People view conflict as unpleasant.
Conflict is inevitable. Although it is impossible to eliminate conflict, there are ways to manage it effectively.
Functional and Dysfunctional Conflict
Functional conflict
“Constructive Conflict”--Mary Parker Follett (1925)
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
Conflict
Dispute
Avoidance
Negotiation
ADR; ADJ; ARB; Litigation; Beyond
Conflict Continuum
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
Conflict and Dispute
Conflict can be managed
Disputes need 3rd party resolvers
Dispute = dysfunctional conflict
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
Win Win Lose Lose
Win Win
Win Lose
Lose Win
Lose Lose
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Game Theory
The science of strategy
Analysis of fortunes where interdependency
See internet generally
See Co-opetition by Nalebuff and Brandenburger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coopetition
Economics Nobel Prize 2020
Game theory again
The economist David Blanchflower, a former Bank of England policymaker, said the award failed “to reward people for finding things about the real world rather than for playing economic games. The Nobel prize in economics once again goes to a couple of old white men who published esoteric mathematical squiggles years ago that have little or no bearing on the lives of ordinary people. Their work has nothing to say about improving the condition of the man or woman on the Clapham omnibus”.
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk
Discussion Threads week 3
Dispute: Avoidance; Management and Resolution 100 words. Do you agree with the UK government? Is it: avoid; manage or resolve?
Look a brave student had a go
What is the worst thing that could happen?
You get it wrong - impossible
How many marks? – not many
You look foolish? - Not as foolish as Peter Fenn
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How to Disagree
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Two Important Books?
peter.fenn@manchester.ac.uk