Conflict Management

L 7900

Conflict Management

Spring II 2008

INSTRUCTOR:

William A. Nowlin, Ph.D.

PHONE:

(708) 261-8811

EMAIL:

FAX:

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Title / Publication manual of the American Psychological Association
Author(s) / American Psychological Association
Copyright / (2001).
Publisher / Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
ISBN / 1557987912
Edition / 5th
Title / Negotiation: Readings, exercises, and cases
Author(s) / Lewicki, R., J., Saunders, D. M., Minton, J. W., & Barry, B.
Copyright / (2007)
Publisher / New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin
ISBN / 0-07-297310-2
Edition / 5th

This Course Requires the Purchase of a Course Packet: YES NO

Argosy University

COURSE SYLLABUS

L7900

Conflict Management

Faculty Information

Faculty Name: William A. Nowlin, Ph.D.

Campus:

Contact Information:

Office Hours:

Short Faculty Bio:

Course description: This course provides participants with the theory and best practices for understanding and managing conflict and appropriate resolution. Students examine different contexts of interpersonal and inter-group conflicts and use methods for diagnosing the extent and severity of the differences (in terms of positions, values and needs) between individuals and groups. An examination of the effects of overt and covert conflicts in terms of communication and trust breaking in included, as in the impact of differential personal styles and values on conflict management. Trade-offs and risk analysis are considered in the mediation/resolution process. The course includes theoretical orientations and theory-to-practice experiences using case studies, demonstrations, and simulations.

Course Pre-requisites: None

Required Textbook:

American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. (5th ed.).

Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

ISBN: 1557987912

Lewicki, R., J., Saunders, D. M., Minton, J. W., & Barry, B. (2007). Negotiation: Readings, exercises, and cases (5th ed.). New

York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. ISBN: 0-07-297310-2

Additional Reading Assignments [Select at least one from each area]:

Conflict Management System Design:

Costantino, C. A., & Merchant, C. S. (1996). Designing conflict management systems: A guide to creating productive and healthy organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc.

Lipsky, D. B., Seeber, R. L., & Fincher, R. D. (2003). Emerging systems for managing workplace conflict: Lessons from American corporations for managers and dispute resolution professionals. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc.

Masters, M. F., & Albright, R. R. (2002). The complete guide to conflict resolution in the workplace. New York: Amacom – American Management Association.

Mediation:

Crawley, J., & Graham, K. (2002). Mediation for managers: Resolving conflict and rebuilding relationships at work.London: Nicholas Brealey Publishers.

Leviton, S. C., & Greenstone, J. L. 1997). Elements of mediation.Boston: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

Negotiation:

Acuff, F. L. (1997). How to negotiate anything with anyone anywhere around the world.New York: Amacom – American Management Association.

Fisher, R., Ury, W., & Patton, B. (1991). Getting to yes: Negotiating agreement without giving in. (2nd ed.). New York: Penguin Books.

Strategy:

Cloke, K., & Goldsmith, J. (2000). Resolving conflicts at work: A complete guide for everyone on the job.San Francisco: Jossey-Boss

Myerson, R. B. (1997). Game theory: Analysis of conflict.Boston: HarvardUniversity Press.

Course length: 7.5 Weeks

Contact Hours: 45 Hours

Credit Value: 3.0

Program Outcomes:

Leadership in Teams: Given an organizational situation, identify strategies to develop, maintain, motivate, and sustain self-managed teams using concepts, theories and techniques of team leadership.
Collaboration in Teams: Given a case study or leadership situation, collect, assimilate, disseminate, and maximize the views of team stakeholders in order to reach defensible goals with minimal conflict.
Conflict: Given an organizational situation that requires interpersonal or interdepartmental action, identify situations of conflict, diagnose the impact of both overt and covert behavior, and develop a plan for conflict resolution using evidence-based methods.
Ethics: Given an organizational setting, identify ethical and dilemma-resolution practices, and make evidence-based decisions that integrate personal, social, and corporate responsibility.
Communication: Communicate orally and in writing to individuals and groups in a concise, clear, organized, and well-supported manner using formats and technology relevant to the organizational context.
Motivation: Given a leadership situation, identify workplace commitment theories to incorporate influences and power as a leader to motivate organizational stakeholders.
Research: Given an organizational need to evaluate and defend its actions or potential actions, select, analyze, and apply the assessment techniques, research methods, and/or statistical analyses needed to evaluate and defend those actions based on evidence
Knowledge and Understanding of the Field: Demonstrate competency in identifying and integrating the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, historical trends, and key figures in the field of organizational leadership.
Change: Evaluate the impact of change on organizations, organizational members, and other stakeholders and apply appropriate change models and theories to facilitate successful change.
Global diversity: Analyze and evaluate the involvement of diversity in leadership issues, with special attention to the implications of diversity for individuals, organizations, and societies.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Achieve personal development and demonstrate positive relationship skills via effective communication, respect for others, and awareness of their impact on others.

Course Objectives:

Identify and analyze applicable theories for managing conflict and apply the theories to diagnose and resolve the conflict. Program outcome(s) 5, 8
Examine the multiple contexts of those conflicts, and apply methods to diagnose and resolve the conflict. Program outcome(s) 3, 5, 8
Examine the impact of communication and trust breaking on overt and covert conflicts and utilize findings to either implement preventative measures or inform corrective courses of action. Program outcome(s) 3, 5, 8
Examine the impact of differential personal styles and values and apply them to the conflict management process. Program outcome(s) 3, 8
Identify and apply the trade-offs and risk analysis used in the mediation resolution processes. Program outcome(s) 3, 8
Demonstrate team memberand leadership behavior that is effective and creative in achieving team goals by identifying and applying mature group and team leadership skills in a variety of situations. Program outcome(s) 1,2, 3, 8
Given one or more objectives of an organization in which conflict exists, collect, categorize and consider the views of all stakeholders to develop effective strategies to obtain the objective(s). Program outcome(s) 1,2,3, 5, 8
When managing conflict, use approaches that are value-based, professional, ethical, and well supported. Program outcome(s) 3,4, 5, 8
Analyze the impact of both cultural and economic factors on conflict management and explain the potential for conflict that stems from diversity issues within organizations and communities, and amongst stakeholders. Program outcome(s) 1, 8, 9, 10

Assignment Table

Module / Module Topics / Readings / Assignments
1 /

Conflict
Managing conflict
Conflict resolution
Conflict management frameworks
Negotiation