Conflict Resolution

Resolving Conflict in the Workplace

Strategies for addressing and resolving conflicts that arise in the workplace, promoting a harmonious and productive work environment.

​Lesson Objective:

• Appraise techniques to resolve workplace conflict.
  

• Resolve conflict scenarios
  

• Evaluate what they have learned about conflict resolution

Types of positive and negative conflict resolution

Accommodate (neutral)

One person gives in to another, whether they want to or not. They do this because they believe ending the conflict is more important than winning. This is a positive technique because the conflict is resolved, but the accommodator may eventually become frustrated with "giving in" to every conflict, thus leading to negative outcomes.

Avoidance (negative)

This is most often a negative solution. Both sides avoid the conflict, which can be helpful in minor conflicts. But for an important conflict, this is a negative sollu-tion because people try to avoid the issue, even though it won't go away and will eventually grow into a larger problem.

Collaborative (positive)

This strategy involves a group of people working together to reach a solution that meets the needs of everyone involved. It is most useful when there is a group of people involved in the conflict, when previous attempts to resolve the conflict have failed, or when the conflict is important and must be resolved.

Competitive (negative)

This strategy is most often used by a boss or supervisor. They use their power to make a decision when there is an emergency and the conflict must be resolved immediately. This style may be used after other styles have failed. This leads to a negative outcome in conflicts that are not emergencies, because people affected by this decision can have their feelings hurt and become resentful.

Compromise (positive)

This strategy attempts to partially satisfy everyone involved in the conflict. It requires everyone involved to give up something in order for everyone involved to get something they want. This strategy is useful when a deadline is approaching and there is not a clear decision of what is best for everyone.

Multiple Choice

Two coworkers are arguing over who gets to use the conference room for an important meeting. One of them decides to let the other person have it, even though they had also planned to use it. Which conflict resolution style is being used?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise

Multiple Choice

A team of project managers is struggling to agree on the approach for an upcoming project. They decide to sit down and work together to find a solution that benefits everyone. Which conflict resolution style are they using?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise

Multiple Choice

Two friends are trying to decide where to go for dinner, and they both have different preferences. They agree to choose a restaurant neither of them particularly wanted but are willing to go along with it. Which conflict resolution style is being used?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise

Multiple Choice

In a business meeting, the team leader makes a unilateral decision to implement a new process without consulting the team. Which conflict resolution style is being used?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise

Multiple Choice

Two neighbors are having a dispute over a property boundary. They agree to split the disputed area in half and each gives up a portion of their land to resolve the issue. Which conflict resolution style is being used?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise

Multiple Choice

A couple is arguing about where to spend their vacation. Instead of arguing further, they decide to take turns choosing the destination for each vacation. Which conflict resolution style is being used?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise

Multiple Choice

A manager is facing a situation where a decision must be made immediately to resolve a critical issue in the company. Which conflict resolution style is being used?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise

Multiple Choice

A group of friends is planning a party, and they can't agree on the theme. They decide to choose a theme that none of them are particularly excited about but can live with. Which conflict resolution style is being used?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise

Multiple Choice

A team of coworkers is working on a project, and they can't agree on the timeline. They eventually agree to extend the deadline, allowing everyone more time to complete their tasks. Which conflict resolution style is being used?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise

Multiple Choice

A student group is trying to decide how to allocate their budget for various activities. They decide to distribute the funds in a way that everyone gets some of what they wanted but not everything. Which conflict resolution style is being used?

• Avoidance

• Collaborative

• Competitive

• Accommodate

• Compromise