Identify one of the conflict-handling styles (Accommodating/avoiding/competing) used in this scenario. How did you determine that?
There are various methods through which the conflict can be managed. Three of them as discussed are:
- Accommodating: One party accommodates and oblige the demands of other party, and it is one of useful approach to deal with the matter, as one party will benefit for now, and the other one will have a chance next time.
- Avoiding: When parties back off from situations and put an end to matter without resolving the issue, it is a technique of avoidance. It is not useful because no party gets any advantage and the problem can lead to future conflicts.
- Competing: When one party accomplishes what they want on the expense of other party and maximize their own self-interest. The solution is temporary, and the issue may arise again.
Based on these factors, Kay is facing competing technique, because she will give raise in salary, but on the other hand she will have to bear the expense of not availing the upcoming project with promising returns and growth to company. Hence, at one point she is accomplishing the demands of Mr. Robert, but on the other hand she is expensing company’s growth. In other case, she will have to face Union issues and strike, which might again cause threat to company’s reputation as well as future prospects.
Choose one of the characters and determine which bargaining approach (distributive or integrative) is used. How did you determine that?
The two approaches for bargaining are distributive and integrative
- Distributive: When one party refuses to acknowledge the stance of other party, and strongly fight for their own choice and stance, then they are using distributive bargaining approach.
- Integrative: In this approach both parties look for their own interest and have a mutual consensus to choose a go between path to settle the situation. A win-win situation occurs as both parties are satisfied with the outcome.
Based on above approaches, it can be inferred that distributive approach of bargaining is used because only Mr. Robert is willing to get the benefit and is not agreeing with the stance of Kay. This one-sided approach of willingness to fulfill own demands without considering company’s position and growth prospects Mr. Robert is following distributive approach of bargaining.
What aspect of interpersonal communication is contributing to the poor working environment? How is this demonstrated in the case?
Emotional Intelligence is one of the integral parts of Interpersonal Communication, and it is further divided into two more components of self, and social aspects. Discussing them in a bit detail:
Mr. Robert lack self-regulation because he does not have openness and flexibility to accept the negotiations of Kay. He was up to a level of threatening Kay of Union, so he is extremely lacking in flexibility to adhere others point of view.
On the other hand, He also lacks social skills because he does not have effective communication skills to go by a peaceful negotiation talk to resolve the matter instead, he is just trying unethical ways to pressurize the management of company specifically Kay. He also lacks collaboration and cooperation skills because he is not willing to cooperate with the management at all, and only wants to achieve his own and his sub-ordinates benefit. These all factors leak to weak conflict management skills which Mr. Robert lack to deal with the situation.
Using Hall’s context model (high and low context culture), describe one of the characters’ behavior. How did you determine that?
Edward Hall divided cultures into two classifications with a scale from low-context culture to high-context cultures.
He gave reasoning that some cultures are high context because they have a collectivist, and they have a very strong value for non-verbal communication. The communication is indirect sometimes, and more emphasis is given to relationships and feelings for others. The bonding is very strong and therefore people usually take decision on consensus basis and then everyone own it whether it led to success or failure outcome.
On the contrary, Low context cultures are individualistic. They are explicit and direct. The communication heavily relies on verbal and short-term relationships. As well as, the bonding is not very strong, and people tend to develop purpose-based relationships for shorter period of time.
On the basis of this analysis, we can conclude that Mr. Robert’s behavior is expressing low-context culture, and he is just behaving in an objective-oriented manner who only wants to get his short-term benefit. He is not showing mutual consensus, and a strong bonding with the management or the company he is working in. He is also explicit and direct about threatening from Union members.
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