Overview
To prepare for the assignment, begin by selecting one of the four sources of conflict below (also outlined on pages 357–358 of your text):
- Personal differences
- Role incompatibility
- Environmental stress
- Perceived injustice
Then, using the Unit 2 Assignment Template, please address each of the following by writing an expository paper of at least 2 full pages:
- In one paragraph, describe a workplace scenario that illustrates your chosen source of conflict.
- Your example can be hypothetical, derived from your own work experiences, a recent news event, or any other case study that you have researched. Simply describe the story of what is happening.
- Explain the relevant underlying factors that are contributing to the conflict. Discuss how the factors you identified negatively impact the organization and its stakeholders. Some possible avenues of exploration include:
- How is the conflict viewed or interpreted by each participant?
- What are some possible underlying motives or agendas that you, as a leader, might be able to identify?
- Is there a cognitive distortion present on the part of one or more parties?
- Discuss three leadership practices that can help facilitate a resolution to the problem and help restore an unhealthy work environment to one that is functional.
- Explore your rationale for your particular approach and describe how your chosen practices will facilitate a healthier and more productive work environment.
- For this section, you do not have to solve the problem. Instead, consider the most important thing you can do as a leader to help move the conflicting parties in the direction of a resolution.
- Your discussion of the rationale for the chosen action steps must also reference one academic journal from the Library and at least one concept from the text. Concepts from the text can include:
- Theories of conflict (systems, attribution, social exchange)
- Kilmann’s conflict model
- The nine stages of conflict (i.e., the escalation model)
- Interests versus positions
- The “Ways of Acting” section from the chapter reading
- Finally, conclude by reflecting on the case study you presented, explaining how a leader's approach to conflict impacts the organization's culture. What is the leader's role in helping an organization sustain a healthy environment?
References
Ackerman, C. E. (2017, September 29). Cognitive distortions: 22 examples & worksheets (& PDF). https://positivepsychology.com/cognitive-distortio...
Gallo, A. (2018). Why we should be disagreeing more at work. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2018/01/why-we-should-be-disagreei...
Please review and follow the assignment requirements in the next tab, titled Assignment Details.