Instructions Think of how you behave in conflict situations in which your wishes
ID: 426203 • Letter: I
Question
Instructions Think of how you behave in conflict situations in which your wishes differ from those of others. Rate each of the following statements on a scale of 1 = "not at all" to 5 = "very much". When I have a conflict at work, school, or in my personal life, I do the following: _______ 1. I give in to the wishes of the other party. _______ 2. I try to realize a middle-of-the-road solution. _______ 3. I push my own point of view. _______ 4. I examine issues until I find a solution that really satisfies me and the other party. _______ 5. I avoid a confrontation about our differences. _______ 6. I concur with the other party. _______ 7. I emphasize that we have to find a compromise solution. _______ 8. I search for gains. _______ 9. I stand for my own and the other's goals. _______10. I avoid differences of opinion as much as possible. _______11. I try to accommodate the other party. _______12. I insist we both give in a little. _______13. I fight for a good outcome for myself. _______14. I examine ideas from both sides to find a mutually optimal solution. _______15. I try to make differences seem less severe. _______16. I adapt to the other party's goals and interests. _______17. I strive whenever possible towards a fifty-fifty compromise. _______18. I do everything to win. _______19. I work out a solution that serves my own as well as others' interests as much as possible. _______20. I try to avoid a confrontation with the other person. Scoring Total your scores for items as follows. Accommodating tendency: 1 + 6 + 11 + 16 = _______ Compromising tendency: 2 + 7 + 12 + 17 = _______ Competing tendency: 3 + 8 + 13 + 18 = _______ Collaborating tendency: 4 + 9 + 14 + 19 = _______ Avoiding tendency: 5 + 10 + 15 + 20 = _______ Interpretation Each of the scores approximates one of the conflict management styles discussed in the chapter. Although each style is part of management, only collaboration or problem solving leads to true conflict resolution. You should consider any patterns that may be evident in your scores and think about how to best handle the conflict situations in which you become involved.
Reflection Provide summary results of your scores and a discussion of what they mean to you and implications for your management skills. Somewhere in your answer, include at least one way you can build your skill and comfort with conflict management and negotiation. (One idea I have for you is to take MG354 Business Negotiation with me this fall, but you can't use that because I just said it and some of you have already taken it).
Explanation / Answer
. I give in to the wishes of the other party. _______ 3
2. I try to realize a middle-of-the-road solution. _______3
3. I push my own point of view. _______ 2
4. I examine issues until I find a solution that really satisfies me and the other party. _______ 2
5. I avoid a confrontation about our differences. _______ 4
6. I concur with the other party. _______ 3
7. I emphasize that we have to find a compromise solution. _______ 3
8. I search for gains. _______ 4
9. I stand for my own and the other's goals. _______4
10. I avoid differences of opinion as much as possible. _______4
11. I try to accommodate the other party. _______4
12. I insist we both give in a little. _______5
13. I fight for a good outcome for myself. _______2
14. I examine ideas from both sides to find a mutually optimal solution. _______2
15. I try to make differences seem less severe. _______4
16. I adapt to the other party's goals and interests. _______4
17. I strive whenever possible towards a fifty-fifty compromise. _______5
18. I do everything to win. _______2
19. I work out a solution that serves my own as well as others' interests as much as possible. ______4_
20. I try to avoid a confrontation with the other person. --------5
Score
Accommodating tendency: 1 + 6 + 11 + 16 = __3+3+4+4_____ 14
Compromising tendency: 2 + 7 + 12 + 17 = ____3+3+5+5___ 16
Competing tendency: 3 + 8 + 13 + 18 = _______ 2+4+2+2---10
Collaborating tendency: 4 + 9 + 14 + 19 = _______2+4+2+4----12
Avoiding tendency: 5 + 10 + 15 + 20 = _______ 4+4+4+5---17
Interpretation
I primarily have an avoiding style in conflict management. This may result in resentment on my side
This is a non-confrontational approach. Though this does not escalate conflict it just postpones problems leaving them unresolved problems.
The second one close to that is accommodating style. This more people friendly approach helping to maintain relationships. But this breeds resentment in myself and the opposite party exploits my behaviour
I am not a very competing person in general. This absence of assertiveness makes me look less goals oriented. This means I mostly move away from conflicts or the other party gets more benefits.
A pattern I can see is more people oriented valuing relationships and loyalty more than results and goals. So I tend to lean towards people friendly styles like Avoiding and Compromising
Implications for management
I need to be more assertive. Accommodating to often results in resentment. So I should try to voice my opinion and need more often. Accommodating or avoiding do not increase trust nor positive relationships
I should become more collaborative on that everybody gets optimal results. Though this may be time consuming it builds trust and relationships in the long run
Ways to improve my conflict management skills
1. Being positive
I am being accommodative because I may be possibly suspecting about losing relationships or failing to get what I need. So i should try to be more positive above outcomes
2. Improve my communication and listening skills to understand and negotiate with other party