Question

Compare and contrast the four responses to interpersonal conflict other than

collaborating. Also, briefly identify the situation where each response would be most

appropriate.

Answer 1

Compare and contrast the four responses to interpersonal conflict other than collaborating. Also, briefly identify the situation where each response would be most appropriate.

Definition - Conflict is a process that begins when someone perceives that someone perceives that someone else has negatively affected, or is about to negative affect, something that the first person cares about. The goal of conflict management is to manage yourself and others so as to bring about the best possible resolution of a conflict situation in terms of the issue at hand, the relationship. For example, if a car salesman sells a used car without a performance guarantee or warranty and the car breaks down on the buyer, the buyer may return to angrily confront the salesperson and demand a refund. The best first step to solve these conflicts is to involve a manager who has the right to offer refunds, discounts or other conciliatory gestures to the customer unless you are in a situation where employees are empowered to make these kinds of decisions.

The four different responses with each situation:

- Competing: people who are assertive and uncooperative. A competing style is one in which the concerns and the position of the opposition are completely ignored. The competing style can be appropriately used when the goal is quick action, or when there is little hope of consensus ever being reached. Ex: Many of the manufacturing industries are carried on with difficulty and maintained only by protective duties on competing goods.

-Compromising: people who are at the midpoint on both assertiveness and cooperativeness. Compromise occurs when each party to a conflict demonstrates a willingness to give up something in order to promote a solution. Compromising might mean splitting the difference, exchanging concessions, or seeking a quick middle-ground position. For example, you offer to pay $30,000 for a new car, but the salesman wants $32,000. The salesman offers to throw in a premium sound system with a value of $1500 and charge you $31,500. If you value the sound system, this might be a good deal, but if you don't, it won't help to seal the deal.

- Avoiding: people who are both unassertive and uncooperative. A person who avoids conflict does not deal the issue at hand when it arises. Avoiding might mean diplomatically sidestepping an issue, postponing an issue until a better time, or withdrawing from a threatening situation. EX: For example, you have two equally important tasks. Both require the same time commitment and need to be handled right away - a student might do this with homework, a worker may do this with work tasks but it also can be a personal need met with an external need. A person will avoid these tasks because of an inability to choose which has priority.

-Accommodating: people who are unassertive but cooperative. Accommodation carries with it an element of self-sacrifice. This mode might involve selfless generosity or charity or yielding to another’s point of view. Ex: a business that requires formal dress may institute a "casual Friday" policy as a low-stakes means of keeping the peace with the rank and file. Employees who use accommodation as a primary conflict management strategy, however, may keep track and develop resentment.