MGT501 MOD3 SLP: Conflict Management

In this module, you will be assessing your own personal conflict style and considering the situations in which the style might be helpful, and when it might be less than optimal—or even dysfunctional. Begin by logging on to the website below and completing the Conflict-Management Style Survey. Be sure to read the accompanying material that follows the survey.

Required Reading

The Leadership Center At Washington State University. (n.d.) Conflict-Management Style. http://www(dot)afc-ispi(dot)org/Repository/Conflict-Management%20survey.pdf

(Note that you need to have Acrobat Reader to be able to "read" this document. Acrobat Reader is available for free download from www(dot)Adobe(dot)com.)

Assignment

When you are done, compose a 2- to 3-page essay that addresses the following questions:

• What is your primary conflict management style? What is your least preferred style?
• In what types of conflict is your primary style likely to be appropriate? In what types of conflict situations is it likely to be dysfunctional? Explain why.
• What types of conflict situations are best handled by your lesser preferred styles?
• What steps can you take to increase your use of your lesser preferred styles in situations where they would be most beneficial, and decrease the use of preferred styles when they are likely to be dysfunctional?

Keys to the Assignment

The key aspects of this assignment that should be covered in your paper include:

• Complete the assessment according to the guidelines and interpret the results.
• Include the actual instrument and results.
• Based on your results, explain how you could improve your conflict management behaviors and under what conditions.
• Based on your results, explain how improving your conflict managment behaviors might translate into actual behaviors at the workplace? And what might be the results of such an improvement?

Assignment Expectations

Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

• Assignment-Driven Criteria (Precision and Breadth): Does the paper fully address all Keys to the Assignment? Are the concepts behind the Keys to the Assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements? 
• Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking and Depth): Does the paper demonstrate graduate-level analysis, in which information derived from multiple sources, expert opinions, and assumptions has been critically evaluated and synthesized in the formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does the paper address the topic with sufficient depth of discussion and analysis?
• Business Writing (Clarity and Organization): Is the paper well written (clear, developed logically, and well organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the Keys to the Assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations? 
• Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy and References): Does the paper demonstrate that the student has read, understood and can apply the background materials for the module?  If required, has the student demonstrated effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality (library?) sources? Do additional sources used in paper provide strong support for conclusions drawn, and do they help in shaping the overall paper? 
• Citing Sources: Does the student demonstrate understanding of APA Style of referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text citations (for paraphrased text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have all sources (e.g., references used from the Background page, the assignment readings, and outside research) been included, and are these properly cited? Have all end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations?