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At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Distinguish between binding arbitration, managerial arbitration, managerial mediation, and
community mediation.
2. Explain communication theory and positive communication techniques.
3. Complete assessments to determine individual conflict management style.
4. Examine contributing causes of conflict such as individual differences, workplace behaviors,
and organizationally induced conflicts.
5. Recognize clues for identifying misinterpretations, communication barriers, and
communication breakdowns.
6. Identify historical considerations that may be contributing to the conflict.
7. Identify standards of acceptable behavior within the organization to explore settlement of the
conflict, such as the company or department policies and procedures, company codes, and
union agreements.
8. Identify standards of acceptable behavior within the community to explore settlement of the
conflict, such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the Health
Department, and neighborhood associations.
9. Apply mediation stages with the goal of resolving conflict.
10. Construct a settlement agreement.
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I. Dispute Resolution Options
A. Binding arbitration
B. Managerial arbitration
C. Managerial mediation
D. Community mediation
II. Communication Process
A. Sender/Message/Channel/Receiver
B. Feedback loop
C. Positive communication techniques
D. Communication roles
E. Assertive behavior techniques
F. Listening skills
III. Conflict Management Mode Assessment: Thomas-Kilmann Instrument
A. Collaborative: high assertiveness and high cooperativeness
B. Compromising: mid assertiveness and mid cooperativeness
C. Accommodating: low assertiveness and high cooperativeness
D. Competing: high assertive and low cooperativeness
E. Avoiding: low assertiveness and low cooperativeness
IV. Contributing Causes of Conflict and Historical Content
A. Historical considerations contributing to the conflict
B. Workplace behaviors contributing to the conflict
C. Individual differences:
1. High context/low context, generational values,
2. Work values, personal values, cultural variables
D. Organizationally Induced Conflicts
V. Organizational Standards for Clarification of Conflict
A. Organizational mission and vision statements, goals, and values
B. Organizational or departmental policies and procedures
C. Organizational codes of safety and codes of conduct
D. City, State, County, and Federal law
E. Union contracts and MOUs (Memorandum Of Understanding)
F. Performance appraisals
VI. Community Standards for Clarification of Conflict
A. OSHA
B. Health Department
C. Police, sheriff, and fire departments
D. County or state code enforcement agencies
E. City, State, County, and Federal law
VII. Mediator's Role
A. Appropriate time and space
B. Control of external and internal interference
C. Ground rules
D. Tasks of the Mediator(s)
1. Explanation of the process
2. Recognition of clues of misinterpretation
3. Recognition of signals of a shift in attitude
4. Recognition and confirmation of agreements
E. Techniques for encouraging collaborative communication
VIII. Stages of Mediation
A. The opening by the mediator
B. Participants take turns talking to mediator(s)
C. Participants take turns talking to each other
D. Working toward resolution
E. Solutions and agreements
IX. Development of a Plan of Action or Settlement Agreement
X. Evaluation of the Conflict Resolution Process
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Conflict Management for Managers: Resolving Workplace, Client, and Policy Disputes. Raines, Susan. Jossey-Bass Publishing. 2013 (classic)
The Conflict Survival Kit. 2nd ed. Griffith, Daniel and Goodwin, Cliff. Pearson. 2012 (classic)