In personal and workplace settings, conflicts inevitably occur. It is important that conflicts are resolved as soon as they are recognized. Conflict resolution styles, such as avoidance, competition, accommodation, compromise, and collaboration are used to address conflict situations. In the following scenarios, suggest the appropriate conflict resolution style(s). Explain your rationale for the choice and the anticipated outcome.

 

1. Laura has planned to take a day off this week. Her supervisor Tara noticed that work demands will be high on the day of her request. She wants Laura to reschedule her day off with the promise to allow her flex time and leave as soon as the job is accomplished.
2. Two talented but aggressive teammates want to show off their skills during a project meeting. One wants to take credit for the work he has done and the other tries to advance his ideas front and center. The team leader wants these two to work together well.
3. A company picnic is being planned. Two subgroups are tasked to come up with a fun and enjoyable program for the employees and their families. One group has its own set of group activities while the other group leans more toward individual participation. At a recent communication meeting, the two groups have expressed their desire to work together.
4. Responding to the rumor mill, Mary confronted Alyssa at a coffee break for spreading lies about her love life. Mary was relentless and fuming mad about the situation. Entering the cafeteria, coworker Latisha witnessed the entire argument.
5. Mario who works as a front-line employee in a packing company is one of the most reliable in the group. One day, he received a phone call from his wife informing him that the babysitter for their two sons fell sick. He would have to come home because the wife must leave for work within the next hour. The line is short-staffed and supervisor Mark wants Mario to complete his duties.  

The entry should be a minimum of 400 words and not more than 750 words. Use APA citations and references if you use ideas from the readings or other sources.

Answer:

1. Compromising style of resolving conflict should be used by Laura and Tara.

2. Collaborating style of resolving conflict should be used by the team leader.

3. Collaborating style of resolving conflict should be used between the two groups.

4. Avoiding style of resolving conflict should be used by Alyssa.

5. Compromising style of resolving conflict should be used by Mario and his supervisor Mark.

Explanation:

1. Compromising style of resolving conflict should be used by Laura and Tara. This style involves finding a solution that will not please both of the entities. One of the entity compromises to fulfill the requirements as the requirements are more important. Hence, Laura should compromise her week off in order to resolve the conflict as Tara's requirement of completion of the tasks under Laura's job is more important than the week-off for Laura.

2. Collaborating style of resolving conflict should be used by the team leader. Collaborating style is the process of finding a solution to a conflict that will meet the needs of all the entities involved in the conflict. Hence, the team leader should find a way in which both the teammates can get their wants fulfilled. This will resolve the conflict and both the teammates will get satisfied. This style will help the team leader in implementing equality among the teammates.

3. Collaborating style of resolving conflict should be used between the two groups. Collaborating style is the process of finding a solution to a conflict that will meet the needs of all the entities involved in the conflict. In this above-stated case, both the groups should collaborate and put group efforts in the communication meeting in order to perform their role accurately and as a group. The group which generally works as a team should assist the other group to work as a team and put group efforts in order to fulfill their demand of working together.

4. Avoiding style of resolving conflict should be used by Alyssa. Avoiding style is a process in which the argument is avoided or neglected by one or both the entities involved in the conflict. Alyssa should avoid the argument if she was not spreading the rumors. On the other hand, if she was a part in spreading the rumors she should accept her mistake and avoid the argument so that it does not complicate further and harm the image of both the employees.

5. Compromising style of resolving conflict should be used by Mario and his supervisor Mark. This style involves finding a solution that will not please both of the entities. One of the entity compromises to fulfill the requirements as the requirements are more important. Hence, Mark should compromise on the quality service by Mario for that particular day and find someone less competent for the place of Mario as Mario's requirement of taking care of his children is more important in this case.