The Essentials of conflict Unit 1 Milestone

Molly, a company mediator, had agreed to help Martin and Samir. The two men had been in constant disagreement ever since they became co-managers of the marketing department two months ago, and this disagreement was starting to impact all parts of the department. During a mediation session, Molly asked the men to explain their conflict over a recent business proposal. "Tell me exactly which part of the proposal is causing the issues," she instructed."Well," Samir started cautiously, "I grew up in Arizona, and I know that the Hispanic American community there sometimes does things differently from the way we do things here in New York. Martin wants to try to close the deal quickly, but I don't think that will work. We need to focus on building relationships. I'm afraid Martin's way of operating might cause some conflict with the client." "But Samir's approach will take too long! Do you want to be successful or not?" Martin said. By taking into account differences in the Hispanic American community's cultural orientation, Samir is considering their __________ when determining the proposal approach. A. preferred conflict style B. intercultural inventory C. subculture D. language

subculture

Irene received a promotion at work, while Dan did not. Dan felt strongly that he deserved the promotion over Irene, and he blamed her for his being overlooked. A colleague overheard Dan speaking about it at work. "Irene doesn't know it yet, but I've started a rumor that she's trying to get the boss fired so that she can take his job. Once the boss hears about that, she'll definitely be in trouble. I don't feel bad about it, because I never liked her from the beginning. At first, there wasn't a good reason; I just thought she was hard to work with. But over time I realized that she was always trying to make me look bad. You know what I'm talking about, right? Don't you agree that she's hard to work with? Anyway, this should all be over soon. "Which of Dan's statements describes the crisis stage of his conflict with Irene? A. "You know what I'm talking about, right? Don't you agree that she's hard to work with?" B. "I don't feel bad about it, because I never liked her from the beginning." C. "At first, there wasn't a good reason; I just thought she was hard to work with." D. "Irene doesn't know it yet, but I've started a rumor that she's trying to get the boss fired so that she can tak

"Irene doesn't know it yet, but I've started a rumor that she's trying to get the boss fired so that she can take his job."

Shante and her husband, Mark, argued over whether to purchase a new car or take a vacation. Mark pushed for a cruise vacation, because he's had no more than two days in a row off work for over a year. Shante pushed for a new car, because it would be three times faster than riding the bus to work. Shante decided she wanted to use a collaborating approach to resolve the conflict. Which of the following would best fit with the collaborating conflict style? A."Mark, neither of us will be happy if one of us is upset. Can we find a way for you to get a break and me to have an easier commute?" B. "Okay, Mark, you win. I'll keep riding the bus for the next year so we can have a two-week trip." C. "Mark, you never take my needs seriously! Do you think it's fun riding the bus for an hour to and from work?" D. "Maybe instead of going somewhere for a vacation, we could take a drive or stay at home and relax."

"Mark, neither of us will be happy if one of us is upset. Can we find a way for you to get a break and me to have an easier commute?"

Which statement is most characteristic of the avoiding conflict style? A. "Fine, have it your way!" B. "This is how we should do it." C. "Please don't bring this up." D. "I think it's best if we split it down the middle."

"Please don't bring this up."

After 15-year-old Justin's parents got divorced, he began getting into fights at school and staying out past curfew. His behavior escalated, and after Justin got caught selling cocaine, the police arrested him. Justin was charged with multiple drug offenses. A judge sent his case to the new Restorative Justice Community Court that had been created by his county for non-violent offenders. Which of the following is a goal of restorative justice, which the judge might have felt was valuable in Justin's case? A. It removes the offender from the community. B. It believes that punishment can effectively change behavior. C. It asks the offender to take responsibility for his/her actions and their consequences. D. Although victim satisfaction suffers, it is cheaper than the traditional court system.

It asks the offender to take responsibility for his/her actions and their consequences.

A married couple needs a resolution process that will help them to come to an agreement about how to prioritize their finances. Ultimately, their goal is to learn how to communicate more constructively. Which conflict resolution process is the best for this particular conflict? A. Arbitration B. Mediation C. Conciliation D. Collaborative law

Mediation

Select the true statement about collaborative law as a conflict resolution process. A. Parties must sign a participation agreement. B. A judge must approve divorce mediation for the parties. C. All proceedings in collaborative law are matters of public record. D. Lawyers attempt to mediate their case without their clients present.

Parties must sign a participation agreement.

Tabitha recently became more concerned about environmental issues and asked her husband to stop buying products packaged in plastic. He thinks her request is silly and will make life too difficult. When he comes home from the store with items in plastic packaging, Tabitha becomes angry and feels like her husband is dismissing her needs. Tabitha calls her friend to complain. "This issue is bigger than just helping the environment. I thought he loved me, but now I'm not sure. We don't even speak, so I think it might be time for marriage counseling."What evidence is there that the conflict has escalated to the tension stage? A. Tabitha realizes that her husband is not meeting her needs. B. Tabitha is feeling uncomfortable in her relationship with her husband. C. Tabitha and her husband are actively hurting one another. D. Tabitha is enlisting outside help to assist them with talking to one another.

Tabitha is enlisting outside help to assist them with talking to one another.

Before Tom got married and had children, he played poker with his brother, Derek, and some friends every Thursday night. Now Tom only rarely attends a game. Derek asks if Tom's wife won't let him play, but Tom replies, "No, she'd be fine if I went. But she has a class on Thursday nights to get her nursing certificate, and someone has to watch the kids. I decided I should miss the games so she can get her certificate."Tom's conflict style in this situation would be called accommodating for which of the following reasons? A. Tom preferred to meet his wife's needs rather than his own. B. Tom is trying to hint to Derek that he does not like poker without telling him outright. C. Tom and his wife are both meeting their goals. D. Tom can play poker again when his wife's class is finished.

Tom preferred to meet his wife's needs rather than his own.

Molly, a company mediator, had agreed to help Martin and Samir. The two men had been in constant disagreement ever since they became co-managers of the marketing department two months ago, and this disagreement was starting to impact all parts of the department. During a mediation session, Molly asked both men to describe their most recent conflict."Well, a lot of our issues have been around this new deal we're trying to close with a company in Japan," started Martin. "Our proposal is due next week, and Samir won't let me get it done. By not letting me do things my way and continually adding his two cents, he's stalling the progress. At this rate, with our bickering back and forth, we'll never land this deal that we absolutely need!" Samir looked uncomfortable after Martin's outburst. "Okay... fine. Let's do it your way," he said. "Fine by me!" said Martin. What conflict resolution style does Samir's statement reflect? A. cooperating B. accommodating C. competing D. avoiding

accommodating

Ruth, a mediator, begins to plan for a mediation session with John and Heidi, who are seeking a divorce. They have a large number of assets to untangle, so Ruth invites their accountant to attend the session so that they can review the couple's finances in detail and provide an accurate financial picture. Which type of conflict will inviting the accountant be able to avoid? A. structural B. values-based C. interest-based D. data-based

data-based

Cassie came home from work one day to find her husband, David, waiting for her in the living room. "Honey, we need to talk," he said. "I've been going over our finances, and I think it's time we sell this house and downsize to a condo. There are a lot of nice condos going up downtown, and I think it would be a good lifestyle change for us. "Read the dialogue below and select the part of their argument that represents the compromising conflict style. Cassie: "I don't want to live in a condo. I love gardening, and if we moved to a condo I wouldn't have any outdoor space where I could plant flowers. "David: "I know, but it would make me so happy to be able to retire a little sooner, which I can do if our cost of living decreases."Cassie: "I'm happy here, David. I'm not interested in moving ."David: "Okay. What if we just go look at a couple of places for now? We can check out the buildings that have community gardens ."Cassie: "Fine." A. "I know, but it would make me so happy to be able to retire a little sooner, which I can do if our cost of living decreases." B. "I love gardening, and if we moved to a condo I wouldn't have any outdoor space where I could plant flowers." C. "Okay. What

"Okay. What if we just go look at a couple of places for now? We can check out the buildings that have community gardens."

DeeDee is having an argument with the town government. She wants to build an in-law apartment on her property for her aging mother, but the town has strict rules about the percentage of each lot that can be built up, and Deedee's plans would violate these rules. DeeDee decides to use a competing conflict style in her next conversation with the town. Which statement would most fit with a competing conflict style? A. "These rules are ridiculous. I own the land and I should be able to use my property as I see fit." B. "Let's just forget about this. I don't want to make waves with the town." C. "Let's just forget about this. I don't want to make waves with the town." D. "What if I purchased the empty plot of land next to my house and consolidated the lots? Would that give me enough room to build the in-law apartment?"

"These rules are ridiculous. I own the land and I should be able to use my property as I see fit."

Cheryl and Jenna are both waitresses at a local restaurant. Cheryl talks to her manager about an issue she's having with Jenna. "I've worked at the restaurant for fifteen years, so I'm kind of set in my ways, you know? When Jenna was hired, the way she treated the customers made me a little uncomfortable, but I couldn't put my finger on why. Then one day, she yelled at a group for taking too long to order, and I realized she was always rude to everyone she interacted with, including me. I told her she was out of line, and she started shouting at me. Now we can barely stand to work together. "Which of Cheryl's statements describes the discomfort stage of a conflict? A. "Now we can barely stand to work together." B. "I've worked at the restaurant for fifteen years, so I'm kind of set in my ways, you know?" C. "Then one day, she yelled at a group for taking too long to order, and I realized she was always rude to everyone she interacted with, including me." D. "When Jenna was hired, the way she treated the customers made me a little uncomfortable, but I couldn't put my finger on why."

"When Jenna was hired, the way she treated the customers made me a little uncomfortable, but I couldn't put my finger on why."

Select the true statement about arbitration as a conflict resolution technique. A. An arbitration award is only binding if both parties to the dispute agree to the decision. B. Businesses often seek alternative conflict resolution processes to arbitration because their disputes can be quite technical and difficult for arbitrators to understand. C. Arbitration is often preferred to litigating a dispute in court because it preserves confidentiality. D. If one of the parties does not agree with the arbitration decision, they still have a right to a court trial.

Arbitration is often preferred to litigating a dispute in court because it preserves confidentiality. If one of the parties does not

Which of the following is an example of the pre-conflict stage of conflict? A. Avery asked her husband, Rick, to pick up some soy milk at the store. Rick resolved to be more attentive to her needs after they argued over the fact that he bought regular milk instead of soy milk. B Avery asked her husband, Rick, to pick up some soy milk at the store. He felt irritated when Avery yelled at him to go back to the store because he bought regular milk instead of soy milk. C. Avery asked her husband, Rick, to pick up some soy milk at the store. "Why did you buy regular milk when you know I don't like it?" she cried when he returned. She felt upset that Rick wasn't paying attention to her needs. D. Avery asked her husband, Rick, to pick up some soy milk at the store. Rick picked up regular milk, which he thought was healthier, even though Avery disliked regular milk.

Avery asked her husband, Rick, to pick up some soy milk at the store. Rick picked up regular milk, which he thought was healthier, even though Avery disliked regular milk.

In what way is conciliation different from shuttle diplomacy? A. It allows the conflict resolver to decide the outcome after reviewing the evidence. B. It allows the conflict resolver to offer opinions and suggestions if asked by either party. C. It meets each party's needs through a collaborative effort. D. It considers non-tangible issues such as communication and emotions.

It considers non-tangible issues such as communication and emotions.

Select the scenario that represents the incident stage of a conflict. A. Hailey has been feeling anxious about whether or not her new stepson will get along with her other children. B. Casey's boyfriend wants her to meet his parents, and Casey is feeling a little nervous about the idea. C. Moses and his son are speaking for the first time in years, ever since his son decided to join the army. D. Marta has been traveling a lot for work, and her husband tells her that he's feeling neglected.

Marta has been traveling a lot for work, and her husband tells her that he's feeling neglected.

In which of the following scenarios would conciliation as a conflict resolution process be preferred? A. Martha is having a dispute with her neighbor. She's interested in resolving the dispute in a reasonably friendly manner, but she wants to discuss her needs in private. B. Ted and his husband, Daniel, need a conflict resolution process that will create a safe space for them to communicate their needs to one another. C. Tristram and his neighbor are having a dispute over noise levels. They want a conflict resolution process that will help change their relationship, regardless of whether or not an agreement is reached. D. Raul and Martina are hoping to find a resolution to their dispute that fulfills both of their needs.

Martha is having a dispute with her neighbor. She's interested in resolving the dispute in a reasonably friendly manner, but she wants to discuss her needs in private.

Your neighborhood school has always been highly regarded. In the last few years, though, there have been some changes. Several experienced teachers have left, and the student population has boomed. Parents are growing concerned that the classrooms are too full and the inexperienced teachers don't have the tools to manage the classrooms appropriately. At a recent school board meeting, parents were invited to share their concerns. The meeting quickly devolved into a shouting match between a small, vocal group of parents and the principal. After the meeting, the parents published an op-ed in the local newspaper asking community members to join in their call for the principal's resignation. However, after several more school board meetings, the parents and the principal developed a proposal for change that both sides have agreed to. Which of the following best describes the status of the conflict now? A. The conflict is in the post-conflict stage even though a resolution has not been reached. B. The conflict has not reached the post-conflict stage because it has not yet passed through the crisis stage. C. Resolution has been reached, but the conflict may escalate again in the future. D.

Resolution has been reached, but the conflict may escalate again in the future.

Tilda became very upset with her husband when he left his dirty dishes in the sink. "I work all day, and he expects me to clean up after him," she fumed to herself, not realizing that her husband had planned to come back and clean the kitchen after taking a shower. What is the best approach for addressing their conflict at this stage of misunderstanding? A. Tilda throws her husband's dirty dishes into the trash and tries to forget about it. B. Tilda says to her husband, "Why don't you ever clean up after yourself?" C. Tilda calls her friend and complains about her husband's behavior in order to feel better. D. Tilda says to her husband, "It upset me when you left your dishes in the sink, because it seemed as though you expected me to clean up after you."

Tilda says to her husband, "It upset me when you left your dishes in the sink, because it seemed as though you expected me to clean up after you."