Paper instructions
Task:
1.) Research different conflict resolution materials, class PowerPoints, textbooks, scholarly articles, studies, etc.
2.) Create a two-page report detailing how you would design a conflict resolution program for a company.
3.) What would be included in your program? What would be the goal of your program?
4.) Discuss the reasons for conflict and how your program would address those areas.
5.) The report should be in essay format.
6.) Please use a Cover Page (Your Name, Class, Date, Instructor Name, & Case Study # 2 listed).
7.) Please ensure that you have a minimum of two citations. Please cite all the material used within your assignment.
Solution
Conflict Management and Resolution
ABC has a diverse workforce drawn from various cultural backgrounds. As a result, interpersonal conflicts are frequent in the organization due to the differences regarding employee ethnic backgrounds. Language and communication differences are the primary cause of the conflict since individuals have difficulties agreeing on various issues. While the company could use multiple processes to address the conflicts whenever they occur, designing an effective conflict resolution plan will provide a precise mechanism to deal with communication and language-related conflicts at ABC Company.
The Objectives of the Conflict Resolution Plan
The program will include conflict resolution strategies to prevent and address cross-cultural differences in the organization. The contrast of opinion is common in such an organization. Therefore, the main focus of the proposed program is to identify the possible causes of the conflict and address them to prevent raised issues from escalating and affecting the achievement of the organizational goals. The primary objective of the resolution plan is to prevent and resolve disputes associated with language and communication barriers due to cultural differences to prevent the breakdown of working relationships and organizational performance.
Main Reasons for Conflict
As already noted, conflicts are frequent at ABC Company due to cultural differences. The main causes of the conflict are language and communication barriers due to cultural diversity. As Tenzer and Pudelko (2015) note, negative emotions and linguistic barriers can cause major conflicts in multicultural environments. For example, people from different cultures use distinct languages and communication styles. Therefore, when required to work as a team, the dissimilar opinions can lead to interpersonal disputes (Brett, Behfar, & Sanchez-Burks, 2014). Evidence from the organization indicates that managers spend a lot of time dealing with conflicts. They are also the leading reason for the delayed achievement of team goals and when they cannot assist in resolving issues in time, thus creating a hostile workplace environment.
Conflict Resolution Strategies
The conflict resolution plan will address the language and communication barriers to prevent conflict and also include a mechanism to identify conflicts and resolve them promptly. One of the strategies that will be included in the plan is a cultural education program to sensitize employees about the abounding differences and how to prevent them from leading to hostility. Paletz, Miron-Spektor, and Lin (2014) suggest that cultural sensitization will help individuals in the organization to appreciate their differences and use them constructively. The session will also include the role and function of communication as a non-violent method of conflict resolution. Additionally, it will detail when and where to report conflicts for prompt resolution. Tenzer and Pudelko (2015) advise leaders to support effective communication in the workplace to create an environment of timely reporting of issues and address them immediately. Besides, the strategy will help leaders to resolve disputes through various approaches with the involved parties.
Conclusion
ABC Company is prone to conflicts due to language and cultural barriers in a culturally diverse environment. Therefore, the company needs a conflict resolution plan to ensure the prevention and timely resolution of conflicts. To prevent conflicts, The management will use cultural sensitivity training to prevent conflicts and language and communication strategies to resolve disputes. The strategies will make the company effective in conflict resolution and also prevent adverse effects of differences, such as low morale, delayed projects, and turnover. Generally, the plan will create a productive environment to prevent, report, and address conflicts.
References
Brett, J., Behfar, K., & Sanchez-Burks, J. (2014). Managing cross-culture conflicts: A close look at the implication of direct versus indirect confrontation. In Handbook of conflict management research. London: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Paletz, S. B., Miron-Spektor, E., & Lin, C. C. (2014). A cultural lens on interpersonal conflict and creativity in multicultural environments. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 8(2), 237. DOI: 10.1037/a0035927
Tenzer, H., & Pudelko, M. (2015). Leading across language barriers: Managing language-induced emotions in multinational teams. The Leadership Quarterly, 26(4), 606-625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2015.05.006