PACS 3700/COMM 3700Communication & Conflict

ManagementJan. 16, 2014

A few more things

I’d intended to get to Tues….

Weekly Schedule – example.Week 1 -- January 14, 16 - Why Study Conflict•Lecture Topics, In-class Activities

– Distinction between conflicts, disputes, and other social problems….•Study Questions (things to read for and know for the test)

1. What does Diamond mean by a “conflict model” and what are the effects of using it to address conflicts and disputes? What is Stuart’s alternative to the “conflict model?”

2. How does Diamond “conflict model” relate to your instructor’s notion of conflict “folk knowledge?”

• Required Reading – Stuart Diamond: "The Cost of Conflict" – Stuart Levine: "The Many Costs of Conflict" -- A different & also useful take. If you haven't been on this website before, they

will likely ask you to type in your zipcode so they can post ads for local mediators. If you object to this infringement on privacy, type in a wrong one. But please do read the article!

•Weekly Assignments – Personal Introduction and policy confirmation - – Journal installment 1 - Suggested topic:

•Class PowerPoints/Audio - Note: ppt links will become active shortly before class; MP4s will become active a day or so after class. •.PPT Slides -- January 14 •.MP4 Slides/Audio -- January 14 •.PPT Slides -- January 16 •.MP4 Slides/Audio -- January 16

Upcoming “events”

For ALL assignments

• Format them in MS Word, .txt, .rtf, pdf or .odt (open office)

For ALL assignments

• Put them in the PROPER dropbox!!!• Make sure you get a confirmation.• If you did not, it probably isn’t in. Try again,

and if you fail twice, send it through regular email. But don’t do that unless you have to—I tend to lose things that way!

Events coming up:

• Guest speaker on Tues—important foundational info for the class—please be sure to come!

• Next Thurs. is “facilitation day” – also important foundation—please try to come then too!

On to substance… let’s make sure we’re all on the same page…

What’s a conflict?There are many answers!

According to Joyce Hocker and William Wilmot, conflict is…

• An expressed struggle• At least two parties who are • Interdependent (need each other)• They perceive

– Incompatible goals– Scarce resources– Interference in achieving goals

Daniel Dana - Business Mediator, defines conflict as a situation when…

• Two (or more) parties are INTERDEPENDENT

• They BLAME each other for a problem• They are FRUSTRATED or ANGRY • Their behavior is causing a PROBLEM.

http://www.mediate.com/articles/dana1.cfm

According to these definitions, conflict can differ in…

TractabilityTractability

Win-win potential

Win-win potential

Pervasiveness

Pervasiveness

CentralityCentrality

ComplexityComplexity

DurationDuration

NegotiabilityNegotiability

Importance

Importance

But John Burton (and I) make a further distinction…between

Conflicts and Disputes

Slide 2:

Disputes

Disputes are smaller, shorter, and simpler.

• Are short-term disagreements

• Are relatively easily solved

• Generally involve negotiable interests

• Or clear-cut cases of right/wrong that can be adjudicated.

PowerPoint Summary of: What are Conflicts?

Duration

Duration

Win-win potential

Win-win potential

PowerPoint Summary of: What are Conflicts?

Slide 3:

Conflicts

Conflicts are bigger:

They are the “wars” in which disputes take place. (Although disputes can occur outside of conflicts too.)

PowerPoint Summary of: What are Conflicts?

Slide 3:

Conflicts

Conflicts:

• Are long-term • Are deeply rooted• Involve “non-negotiable” interests

- Value/moral differences- High-stakes distributional issues- Denial of basic human needs

• May be- Latent (not acted upon)- Manifest (acted upon)

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

So—Why does this distinction matter?

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

So—Why does this distinction matter?

It determines what you can and should do to respond to the situation.

It determines what your goals should be…

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

Conflict goals…

Resolution= solving it completely for good.

Settlement = solving the superficial stuff (but maybe leaving the deep-rooted stuff)

Management = holding down the visciousness, keeping it und control

Transformation – changing the relationships to improve the long-term prospects for a better future.

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

And you use different strategies:

Negotiation

Mediation

Arbitration

Dialogue

Activism/Power Struggles

IntegrativeIntegrative

DistributiveDistributive

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

So—Here’s a quiz:

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

Slide 4:

Is this a Conflict?

You have just graduated, and you are thinking about going to grad school, but your friends are all going off and getting high-paying jobs right after their B.A.s. That's kind of tempting too--so you can't decide what to do. IS THIS A CONFLICT, A DISPUTE, OR NEITHER?

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

Slide 4:

Is this a Conflict or a Dispute?

An argument with your parents about whether you will come home for Christmas, or go to Mexico with friends.

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

Slide 5:

What about this?

An argument with your roommates about cleaning up the house?

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

Slide 6:

Is this a Conflict?

The War in Afghanistan?

PowerPoint Summary of: Conflicts vs. Disputes

Or this?

The CU/CSU football game

3 kinds of conflict knowledge

• Folk knowledge (advantages? disadvantages?)

• Scientific knowledge(advantages? disadvantages?)

• Practical knowledge(advantages? disadvantages?)

Questions

1. Think of some bad interpersonal conflicts you have experienced and/or witnessed. What were the costs of those conflicts? To the parties and to outsiders? (Notetakers, make a list of costs—aim for at least 10, in 5 minutes or so.)

2. What about conflicts at work? What were the costs of those conflicts? Did W&H list any costs of workplace conflict that surprised you? (Notetakers, try to make a list of at least 10 costs of workplace conflict.)

Questions

3. Have you read about any community conflicts in Boulder or elsewhere? What were the costs of those?(Notetakers, make a list of costs—aim for at least 10, maybe 20, in 5 minutes or so.)

4. What about national conflicts? Can you think of any national conflicts that have significant costs? (These are rampant—write down as many as you can think of.)

5. Same for international conflicts…

Put your answers on a chart:

• Your job: Make a chart -- Cost Interpersonal Workplace National International/Global

1 Lost friendships Lost productivity Congressional inaction

War

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

If conflict is so costly, why do we do it?

(Your turn to answer!)

Are there any benefits to conflict?

What are they?

Is there any way to get the benefits without the costs?

• You tell me…then we’ll see if we agree!