Find and share an advertisement that looks interesting and persuasive. Describe why you pick up the video within one paragraph.

DQ1: Many of us avoid having difficult conversations with others because they provoke feelings of conflict in us, and we are uncomfortable with that feeling. We are often also uncomfortable seeing others in conflict, and as a result, ignore situations that involve the disagreement of others. You have probably worked in a group where there was conflict, and the manager ignored it, hoping that it would “go away by itself”. What was the result of the manager being unwilling to deal with the situation? Did it go away or get bigger? And what were the feelings of the employees?

Your skill sets as a manager/leader are significantly higher, and more respected by others, if you can find ways of having conversations with others to clear the air – whether the conflict is one in which you are personally involved or where you see others involved in the conflict.

The readings this week will help to identify the five conflict management styles. Reflect on these styles to determine which style you use, what works and what could work better. In an effort to bring in some tools that will help you to identify your style, I've located the link below. It's an activity that begins on page two and discusses the findings on page three. When you have time, check it out.

Conflict Management Styles Assessment.

DQ2: Please analyze the following leadership styles. The three main leadership styles include: autocratic, democratic, or laissez-faire. How might conflict and negotiation be handled under these leadership styles? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each work environment? Identify at least one person who you feel leads under each leadership style and support your reason for your choices. Do you (or would you want to) work in an autocratic, democratic, or laissez-faire work environment?

The project manager develops a process improvement plan to encourage continuous process improvement during the life of the project. Discuss.

how do you foster an organization culture that characterized by open communication high performance and an engaged workforce.

Question text

Amanda has a co-worker, Sherry, who is vocal about political opinions. Amanda does not agree with Sherry's views. Amanda likes Sherry but some of her recent comments have upset Amanda and made her feel uncomfortable. Amanda went to her boss, Mel, and expressed her discomfort with Sherry's comments. Mel was empathetic and told Amanda he understood why she was uncomfortable. Mel asked Amanda if she had any input on how he should handle the problem; he did not want to make Amanda more uncomfortable around Sherry, but he did need to visit with Sherry and hear her perspective. Amanda told Mel it would be ok for him to talk to Sherry about her concerns.
Mel accepted input from others to help him solve the problem. Which scenario would be the best approach to solving Amanda's problem using input from others?

Select one:

a. Mel got Amanda and Sherry together and told them they were not to leave the room until they had their problem solved. After an hour, the girls exited the room and told Mel they have solved the problem.

b. After asking his supervisor for advice on how to handle the issue, Mel spoke with Sherry and explained that Amanda was uncomfortable and then he let Sherry share her point of view. With agreement from both employees, Mel mediated a discussion between Sherry and Amanda where they shared their thoughts with each other. In the end, Sherry said she understood how Amanda must feel and agreed to keep politics out of workplace conversations.

c. Mel called both employees into his office and said "Amanda said she does not like it when you talk politics, Sherry. Amanda, Sherry said she did not realize she was upsetting you. So, from now on, Sherry, you are not to talk politics around Amanda." The problem between the employees was solved.

d. Mel spoke with Sherry, alone. He explained that not everyone agrees with their political views. Sherry told Mel that everyone else in the office agreed with them. They laughed and make a couple of jokes about those who don't agree with their politics and they agreed that Sherry would not talk politics when Amanda could hear her.

Question text

Amanda has a co-worker, Sherry, who is vocal about political opinions. Amanda does not agree with Sherry's views. Amanda likes Sherry but some of her recent comments have upset Amanda and made her feel uncomfortable. Amanda went to her boss, Mel, and expressed her discomfort with Sherry's comments. Mel was empathetic and told Amanda he understood why she was uncomfortable. Mel asked Amanda if she had any input on how he should handle the problem; he did not want to make Amanda more uncomfortable around Sherry, but he did need to visit with Sherry and hear her perspective. Amanda told Mel it would be ok for him to talk to Sherry about her concerns.
The best problem-solvers gather all of the information before making a decision of how to best solve the problem. Did Mel demonstrate gathering all of the information before making a decision? Why or why not?

Select one:

a. No, he did not ask other employees if they have heard Sherry discussing politics in an inappropriate manner.

b. No, he did not consult HR about what to do in this situation.

c. Yes, he let Sherry and Amanda share their point of view with him before making a decision.

d. Yes, he let Sherry and Amanda share their point of view, he consulted his supervisor before making a decision

Question text

Amanda has a co-worker, Sherry, who is vocal about political opinions. Amanda does not agree with Sherry's views. Amanda likes Sherry but some of her recent comments have upset Amanda and made her feel uncomfortable. Amanda went to her boss, Mel, and expressed her discomfort with Sherry's comments. Mel was empathetic and told Amanda he understood why she was uncomfortable. Mel asked Amanda if she had any input on how he should handle the problem; he did not want to make Amanda more uncomfortable around Sherry, but he did need to visit with Sherry and hear her perspective. Amanda told Mel it would be ok for him to talk to Sherry about her concerns.
Remaining neutral is a characteristic of effective problem-solving. Was Mel remaining neutral when he said to Amanda, if she had any input on how he should handle the problem; he did not want to make Amanda more uncomfortable around Sherry, and hear her perspective. Why or why not?

Select one:

a. No, he was taking Amanda's side by asking her how she wanted the problem solved.

b. No, he was going to do what Amanda wanted him to do so that she was not uncomfortable.

c. Yes, he did not take either side

d. Yes, he was being empathetic to Amanda but he did let her know that he would be speaking with Sherry also.

After reviewing the standards of performance, you find that the hotel has determined that the standard of performance for room cleanliness requires that 75% of customers respond “completely satisfied”. You decide that corrective action is needed in order to raise the customer satisfaction rating. You meet with your assistant managers, Katherine and Brian, to discuss the situation. They each offer a different suggestion on what you should do next. Brian thinks the housekeeping staff is doing a great job at cleaning the rooms. The problem, he thinks, is that customers have become too picky and expect a five star hotel at three star prices. He suggests that you lower the standards of performance to 70%. Katherine disagrees and thinks you should hold mandatory meetings in order to retrain the housekeeping staff. Even though customers are picky, the hotel should be able to rise up and meet the current standard of performance.

What should you do?

A)Agree with Katherine, and require mandatory training sessions with the housekeeping staff.

B)Agree with Brian and lower the standard of performance to have 70% of guests “completely satisfied”.

This question contains two parts; be sure to answer both.

First, describe the relationship between the amount of conflict in a department or organization and that department or organization's performance. At what level of conflict is performance maximized?

Second, suppose that you are the manager of a store that sells medical supplies for the handicapped or infirm. You see three major sources of conflict at the store: (1) many of the staff members who work the front desk do not like one another, (2) those who stock the shelves and work with the customers are resentful that they are not paid more, and (3) all employees are required to work nights and weekends, which cuts into their family and personal time.

Explain how you would manage any two of the three sources of conflict.

The response/answer to EACH discussion part must be 100 to 125 words for a total of 200 to 250 words.

What might be some disadvantages of acqui-hiring? As a manager, how would you draw up a contract with a new employee who was an acqui-hire? Include considerations such as compensation and benefits, performance measures, training, and a noncompete agreement.

Question text

Identify and Define Problems. Amanda has a co-worker, Sherry, who is vocal about political opinions. Amanda does not agree with Sherry's views. Amanda likes Sherry but some of her recent comments have upset Amanda and made her feel uncomfortable. Amanda puts her energy into telling their co-workers about Sherry's annoying comments. The gossip has gotten back to the boss, Mel. Mel agrees with Sherry's political views. Mel gave Amanda a written reprimand for violating the company's zero tolerance policy. Mel cited that Amanda was bullying Sherry because she was mocking her political views.
Is the problem in the scenario a work-place problem or is it a personal problem between friends?

Select one:

a. It is a personal problem, Amanda and Sherry are friends.

b. It is a personal problem, Amanda and Sherry are friends and the political conversations are of personal content and do not involve talk about work.

c. It is a work problem because Amanda's gossiping is distracting employees from completing their daily tasks.

d. It is a work problem because an employee feels uncomfortable in the workplace and Amanda's gossip is toxic to the work climate.

Identify and Define Problems. Amanda has a co-worker, Sherry, who is vocal about political opinions. Amanda does not agree with Sherry's views. Amanda likes Sherry but some of her recent comments have upset Amanda and made her feel uncomfortable. Amanda puts her energy into telling their co-workers about Sherry's annoying comments. The gossip has gotten back to the boss, Mel. Mel agrees with Sherry's political views. Mel gave Amanda a written reprimand for violating the company's zero tolerance policy. Mel cited that Amanda was bullying Sherry because she was mocking her political views.
What could Amanda have done differently to solve the problem she had with Sherry? Choose the best option.

Select one:

a. Amanda could have taken her concern to the boss, Mel.

b. Amanda could have shared her concern with Sherry without involving others.

c. Amanda could have asked others if they had a problem with Sherry's political views.

d. Amanda could have gone to HR or the ethics hotline.

Identify and Define Problems. Amanda has a co-worker, Sherry, who is vocal about political opinions. Amanda does not agree with Sherry's views. Amanda likes Sherry but some of her recent comments have upset Amanda and made her feel uncomfortable. Amanda puts her energy into telling their co-workers about Sherry's annoying comments. The gossip has gotten back to the boss, Mel. Mel agrees with Sherry's political views. Mel gave Amanda a written reprimand for violating the company's zero tolerance policy. Mel cited that Amanda was bullying Sherry because she was mocking her political views.
Should Amanda have involved her co-workers in her problem solving? Why or Why not?

Select one:

a. Yes, it affects them also.

b. Yes, she should have tried to build a support team against the political talk.

c. No, the issue did not involve others.

d. No, Amanda does not know if her co-workers agree with Sherry's political views.

Critically assess the threats to Volvo’s strategy and how such threats might be countered.

Would you consider having a business? Why? Reply in three paragraphs.

You will develop and draw a mind map of your personal development plan (PDP), by reflecting on the exercises on values and integrity carried out through Unit 1 and Unit 2. You will reflect on how you envision yourself in five years from now, and jot down your reflections in the mind map, placing integrity as the central concept and fitting in the values that you worked in Unit 1 in the respective paths that you identify for you.