Module 8: Relational Transgressions, Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Project Portfolio Outline: Conflict Focus

Mary Heather Pruitt

COM425 – Communication Conflict and Persuasion

Colorado State University – Global Campus

Dean Colby, PhD –Adjunct Instructor

July 11, 2018

Project Portfolio Outline: Conflict Focus

I. Introduction

a. Situation Overview

i. I work with an employee whose work is interdependent with mine. I depend on his ability to finish his role on time so I am able to complete my job. The employee likes to do his work last minute; thus delaying mine, this cause’s poor performance on my part because of his inability to do his work on time and the short amount of time it gives me to complete my part. This has caused a lot of conflict between us. I confronted him to resolve the issue but was unsuccessful. We had to consult management for guidance on what to do to solve the situation. Eventually the issue was solved by giving time limits for completing assignments.

II. Theoretical Connections

a. Uncertainty Theory

i. The main cause of the conflict is the uncertainty of information (Deutsch, Coleman, & Marcus, 2011). I do not know when he will finish his work so that I can do mine. The uncertainty of not knowing causes me frustration and can result in poor job performance because I am not allowed sufficient time to do my work. This is what has caused the conflict between us. The frustration and reduced uncertainty can be alleviated through improved communication (Wallensteen, 2015). This can help us reach an agreement and allow us to both perform our roles efficiently. Once the coworker was aware of the significant impact he was causing on my work, he was more willing to change his work ethic.

III. Skills Assessment

a. Communication phases and processes of conflict

i. There are various stages that conflict takes to be created and to be solved within organizations. Our conflict developed as a result of poor communication. We solved the conflict through enhancing communication and setting guidelines for the completion of assignments.

b. Conflict environment

i. This theory explains the kinds of environments favorable for solving conflict (Mischel, DeSmet, & Kross, 2014). Our conflict was solved because of the availability of a favorable environment. Some characteristics that were present are understanding, focus on the issue, equality, and empathy. These characteristics helped to create a good environment to understand the issue and create a willingness to solve the problem at hand. By focusing on the issue, it helps the parties to solve understand and solve the root of the problem. The other characteristics create understanding and facilitate improvement in the conflict resolution process.

IV. Persuasion Assessment

a. Various elements of persuasion to solve the conflict

i. Logos: Logos appeals to the listener’s logic. I showed my coworker how his delays affected my job performance. It is only logical that he should want to perform better to help me perform better too.

ii. Pathos: Pathos is a method of appealing to the emotion. I used the effect of the incident to influence my coworker’s emotion. Once he realized that he was causing me real problems he became more willing to solve the conflict.

V. Conclusion and Reflection

This essay will demonstrate how elements of conflict resolution theories and persuasion can be used to solve issues within the workplace.

a. References

Deutsch, M., Coleman, P. T., & Marcus, E. C. (Eds.). (2011). The handbook of conflict resolution: Theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons.

Mischel, W., DeSmet, A. L., & Kross, E. (2014). Self-regulation in the service of conflict resolution (pp. 310-330). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Wallensteen, P. (2015). Understanding conflict resolution. Sage.