BUS 3050 It’s a team that’s trying to make a decision, and you’ve been brought into an email chain in which tempers have flared. How does that happen? And how do you move forward? Our personalities are central to how we respond in communication situations, especially when the situation is time-sensitive, critical, or we’re otherwise under duress. Our awareness of ourselves and others can dramatically improve our effectiveness. It’s a team that’s trying to make a decision, and you’ve been brought into an email chain in which tempers have flared. How does that happen? And how do you move forward? Our personalities are central to how we respond in communication situations, especially when the situation is time-sensitive, critical, or we’re otherwise under duress. Our awareness of ourselves and others can dramatically improve our effectiveness. In this assessment, you will navigate just such a challenge. You’ll figure out what’s at the root of the communication problem and suggest a way forward. It will take analysis, communication, and interpersonal skills to bring your team to a place they can function. Overview Responding effectively to a situation rife with conflict requires a variety of communication techniques. In this assessment, you will analyze and respond to a growing controversy depicted in the Responding to Conflict scenario by writing a team communication and subsequently analyzing your approach to devising it. While communication (or lack of it) can often cause workplace conflict, it can also be the solution for addressing it. Knowing how to communicate in increasingly stressful environments is a skill that will serve you well both professionally and personally. Preparation Explore the interactive media piece Responding to Conflict. Scenario Imagine you just came back from lunch and found the email string regarding the proposed staff meeting related in the scenario. It's your plan to address the situation, and it's your intent to do it in communications that demonstrate leadership and a keen understanding of the issue, participants, and their associated dynamics. Instructions Complete both parts of this assessment. Part 1: Analyze Your Approach to the Issue Describe your approach to constructing your email. Describe possible causes for the caustic exchange depicted in the email chain. Consider possible core organizational issues. State any assumptions that you might need to make regarding the scenario to support your assertions. Justify why your message would likely be effective. Consider content, tone, and style. Explain your intent for how your message might impact future communications and actions among team members. Part 2: Write a Response Email Write an email that effectively addresses the email chain. It should: Properly consider the audience, your position, and the circumstances. Articulate a well-conceived solution to the problem. Effectively end the thread completely and de-escalate the tension. Send a message that this exchange was sub-optimal Layout: INTRODUCTION - Part 1: Analyze Your Approach to the Issue Subheading: Describe possible causes for a caustic exchange in an email chain. (Describes possible causes for a caustic exchange in an email chain, showing insight into organizational culture.) Cites include info on ref page Subheading: Describe likely core organizational issues exposed by an email. (Describes likely core organizational issues exposed by an email and cites supporting resources for support.) Cites include info on ref page Subheading: Explain why a message would likely be effective. (Explains why a message would likely be effective, using details that show insight into organizational communication strategies.) Subheading: Describe how a message might plausibly affect future communications and actions among team members. (Analyzes how a message might plausibly affect future communications and actions among team members.) Part 2: Write a Response Email Criteria: Address the appropriate audience, using language and terminology right for the circumstance. (Addresses the appropriate audience, using language and terminology right for the circumstance. Uses precise and accurate vocabulary and effective word choice for articulate, fluent expression.) Criteria: Articulate a solution to a problem through a message that would de-escalate a conflict. (Articulates a solution to a problem that would de-escalate a conflict, providing convincing reasons for the solution.)
Conflict in the
workplace for any organization is common and most often inevitable, considering
the nature and structure of intrapersonal and interpersonal characteristics. In
this case, interpersonal-based conflicts source from the various personalities
in the workplace, and intrapersonal conflicts source from structural and
communication vulnerabilities in the organization. Thus, a critical skill set
for leaders in managerial positions in firms is to determine how to manage and
eliminate conflicts in the workplace. The case study in this paper focuses on
the transcript conflict in a manufacturing company where a team gets into
conflict based on an unintentional message from the group's higher supervising
manager. The email confirms an unaccounted and spontaneous meeting with the
team manager, Roger, and the whole team. The message reaches the team without
going through the team supervisor, Laura, who lacks the chance to break the
news more appropriately. The need for such a rushed meeting causes suspicion in
the group about various reasons why the appointment is needed and the
technicalities of the meeting, which some team members are not entirely
comfortable with. At this point in the conflict, multiple issues and concerns
for the organization are highlighted, which heavily promote the causes of
conflict. Thus, if the conflict is to be managed, the causes and roots of
conflict ought to be determined.