Exam 7: Negotiating and Resolving Conflict

Research study results suggest (1) Asian cultures prefer accommodating and forcing more than Western cultures, (2) Americans prefer avoiding more than Asian cultures, and (3) compromise is the most preferred style across cultures. Which statements are correct?

Describe an example (real or fictional) of forcing as a conflict management approach. Diagnose whether the use of forcing was appropriate to the situation and, if not, what approach would have been preferable.

Which statement is true about conflict stemming from uncertainty about the work environment due to rapid, repeated change?

Once you, the responder, understand the initiator's complaint, what should you do?

What would conflicts between people in the production and sales departments likely be based on?

Explain the four types of interpersonal conflicts and provide an appropriate workplace example for each.

What is the focus of compromising, forcing, accommodating, and avoiding approaches to conflict management?

Maria is from Mexico and Elaine is from Canada; they are customer service representatives. At least twice weekly, they get into an argument over how to handle a customer complaint. The most likely source of their conflict is personal differences.

Your company is downsizing. If you advocate a plan to lay off employees equally from each department (10 percent from marketing, 10 percent from production, etc.), which response to conflict are you using?

Downsizing encourages which type of interpersonal conflict?

Once you, as the initiator, have successfully identified the problem, what should you do?

Which of the following is part of a general framework for collaborative problem solving?

In most cases, who is expected to set the tone for the meeting?

You recently hired individuals from China, Japan, and Korea to your office. What type of interpersonal conflict would be most likely?

What does research suggest about conflict?

In discussing a problem with someone, what is the first step?

Diversity in the workplace could result in interpersonal conflict based on role incompatibility.

After presenting the problem, the initiator should (1) not make accusations, (2) draw inferences about the responder's motivations, and (3) not attribute the undesirable behaviors to the respondent's personal inadequacies. Which statements are correct?

In trying to determine a course of action, it becomes apparent that part of the team had used data supplied by the VP of Finance whereas others on the team had their data supplied from the VP of Marketing. What was a likely source for this conflict?

When the conflict stems from information deficiency, the conflict is easy to resolve because of the intervention of a third party.