hm week 1 Pr

Chapter 2: Question 9 My Feedback

1. Dale, a materials and purchasing lead, and Michael, a manufacturing section manager, have worked together for a couple of years. You know from experience that they do not get along. The three of you are part of a six-member task force charged with analyzing and recommending improvements in your organization’s vender selection process. In the middle of a two-hour meeting, Dale and Michael begin arguing over which aspects of the existing process need to be maintained. Their conversation quickly evolves into a heated exchange over the level of support that Dale’s area provides to Michael’s.

Consider the five styles of conflict resolution described in this chapter. Select two of these and describe the potential advantages and disadvantages associated with applying each one in this situation. What additional information might be helpful to you?

Your answers will vary but should include two of the following conflict resolution methods:

· Compromising: Helpful to find middle ground that may make future working together easier. Problem: Approach requires ‘give and take’ that may be impossible if the two have had a long history of conflict.

· Smoothing: Good because it provides an immediate calming of the situation and allows the meeting to progress. Problem: The conflict is likely to resurrect later, especially because Dale and Michael do not like each other.

· Forcing: Imposing your view will solve the problem for the moment and can be used because it does not appear that Dale and Michael’s input is anything but informational. Problem: Forcing a solution is likely to demoralize the rest of the team.

· Withdrawing: Ignoring the conflict (e.g. by continuing the meeting without acknowledging their fighting) could bring Dale and Michael to end their argument. Problem: The conflict is not solved, merely postponed. Another blow-up is likely to occur later.

· Problem Solving: Working through the problem will provide a permanent solution and lead to better cooperation between Dale and Michael in the future. Problem: If tempers are too heated, mitigation is unlikely to be successful, especially because their conflict has been brooding for some time already.