To explore which conflict styles students would use in a variety of workplace scenarios.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read each of the following workplace scenarios.

2. Next, choose the conflict style being used by the individual in the scenario.

3. Describe why you think the conflict style will (or will not)

help resolve the situation.

Conflict Styles

– Avoidance

– Accommodation

– Compromise

– Competition

– Collaboration 

CONFLICT STYLE WORKSHEET 

Scenario 1: While at work, Maria and her co-worker notice that a laptop is missing from an employee’s cubicle (note that the employee is on vacation). Maria’s first impulse is to report the missing laptop to the manager. However, her co-worker thinks there may be an innocent reason for the missing laptop. He wants Maria to join him in speaking with employees who are in the office. Maria agrees to team up with her co-worker but insists that if after 1 hour they haven’t found the missing laptop, they would inform the manager.

Maria is using the _____ conflict style.

To what degree will this style help (or not help) resolve the situation?

____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Scenario 2: Assume Paul is waiting to hear from his boss whether he is finally going to receive the promotion that he has been promised. Paul’s boss just found out that the budget for the new position for which Paul was slotted has been cut. Consequently, he will not receive the promotion. His boss thinks she can get Paul a job transfer and promotion in another division in the company. She needs a few days to make it happen and doesn’t want to discuss the situation with Paul until it is a done deal. Paul’s boss intends to keep him busy with projects over the next few days until she finds out whether Paul receives the alternate promotion.

Paul’s boss is using the _____ conflict style until she hears back from her contact in the other division.

To what degree will this style help (or not help) resolve the situation?

____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________