ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

Compare and contrast strategies for managing conflict within a team or group

The study guide text and readings have outlined a range of strategies that can be employed to respond to conflict in a team. The approach used will depend on the situation and your role/position within the team.

Activity 5 required you to take part in a group discussion with other students and come up with a preferred solution to a situation which had the potential for conflict.

You have an adviser's role in a busy communications team in a large organisation. Your team is working on a project to promote a big upcoming event and there is a rising pressure to meet deadlines. There's a new graphic designer in the team and you have noticed that they spend a lot of time on Facebook during the day. You know that this person voluntarily works late, but it is irritating you that this person seems oblivious to upcoming deadlines when everyone else is working so hard.

The group will have come up with a list of solutions in the activity.

Part A - Select your three preferred solutions from your group activity and explain how each is related to relevant conflict management strategy.

Part B - Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of each conflict management strategy. You are expected to use additional academic sources outside of the prescribed course readings to support your analysis, in combination with your professional and personal experience.

Part C - Based on your analysis, what would be your preferred choice to manage the potential conflict in the situation outlined above? Justify your answer.

Your essay should be around 1000 words.