Study Outline: Managing Conflict

Lessons in this plan

1. 1 Foundations of Workplace Conflict Define conflict and distinguish it from a simple difference of opinion by identifying interdependence, incompatible goals, perceived interference, and unmet expectations, while recognizing why conflict must be managed rather than ignored. 25 min Video Explanation
2. 2 Dimensions and Dynamics of Conflict Escalation Analyze how history, source, perceptions, emotions, and behavior shape conflict, and explain how these dimensions can escalate or improve workplace conflict outcomes. 30 min
3. 3 Effective and Dysfunctional Responses to Conflict Describe differentiation as a constructive conflict response and evaluate how clarification of positions, reasons, and differences can create opportunities for understanding. 20 min
4. 4 Conflict in Organizational Settings Identify major organizational conflict types, including personality conflicts, role confusion, intragroup conflict, intergroup conflict, and intraorganizational conflict, and connect them to common workplace situations. 25 min
5. 5 Conflict Styles and Their Tradeoffs Compare avoiding, competing, accommodation, compromise, and collaboration in terms of concern for self and others, and determine when each style may be useful or harmful. 40 min
6. 6 Choosing Conflict Tactics Strategically Select conflict tactics based on relationship importance, goals, and the other party’s approach, and explain how tactical adjustment supports better conflict management. 20 min
7. 7 Power and Conflict Resolution in Organizations Explain how power influences conflict resolution, goals, and resource distribution, and distinguish between formal power forms (coercive, reward, legitimate) and personal power forms (expert, referent). 30 min
8. 8 Third-Party Intervention and Formal Resolution Processes Identify situations that require third-party intervention, including whistle-blowing, sexual harassment, and discrimination, and differentiate among negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and judicial approaches. 30 min
9. 9 Applied Conflict Cases and Organizational Contexts Apply conflict concepts to workplace and public-facing cases by diagnosing sources of conflict, perception issues, power dynamics, and response considerations across for-profit, family, nonprofit, and government contexts. 45 min