Assignment 12

1. What are the sources of conflict in this case?

The sources of this conflict go back to the hiring process. Mike was a close personal friend to Dan, and Mike took advantage of the fact that Dan let him have freedom and flexibility to operate a segment as Mike desired. There were no limitations and Mike took advantage of the fact that Dan let him do whatever he wanted regardless of what the consequences were. Mike did not even listen to the suggestions of the other senior partners and was basing all of his decisions on what the junior employees were wanting.

2. What approaches to conflict management are used by Dan Richardson? By Mike Roth? How effective was each?

Dan was using the Accommodation style of conflict management. He was attempting to satisfy the other party’s concerns (Mike’s) while neglecting ones own (the company’s). It was used to preserve their friendship was used to repeatedly to make room for Mike’s unruly behaviour.

Mike was using the Forcing style of conflict management. He was attempting to satisfy his own needs at the expense of the company including Dan and other senior partners. Mike was thinking of his own personal gain and try to meet the needs of the other employees and not following what the senior partners thought was the goal or vision statement of the company.

Neither was effective. Both men were trying to make each other happy and not really looking at the needs and concerns of the company.

3. Based on the behavioural guidelines for the collaborative approach, how could have Dan Richardson have managed this conflict more effectively?

Using the collaborative approach Dan could have used a mediator. The mediator would have been a third person who had a different approach to the problem. This person would have been able to see both points of view and where each went wrong. The Mediator would have been able to come with a solution that would have had a positive impact on both Dan and Mike and would have also had a positive impact on the company as well.