In this module, you will be assessing your own personal conflict style and considering the situations in which the style might be helpful, and when it might be less than optimal—or even dysfunctional. Begin by logging on to the website below and completing the Conflict-Management Style Survey. Be sure to read the accompanying material that follows the survey.

1             Required Reading

The Leadership Center At Washington State University. (n.d.) Conflict-Management Style.http://www(dot)afc-ispi(dot)org/Repository/Conflict-Management%20survey.pdf

(Note that you need to have Acrobat Reader to be able to "read" this document. Acrobat Reader is available for free download from www(dot)Adobe(dot)com.)

2             Assignment

When you are done, compose a 2- to 3-page essay that addresses the following questions:

• What is your primary conflict management style? What is your least preferred style?
• In what types of conflict is your primary style likely to be appropriate? In what types of conflict situations is it likely to be dysfunctional? Explain why.
• What types of conflict situations are best handled by your lesser preferred styles?
• What steps can you take to increase your use of your lesser preferred styles in situations where they would be most beneficial, and decrease the use of preferred styles when they are likely to be dysfunctional?

3             Keys to the Assignment

The key aspects of this assignment that should be covered in your paper include:

• Complete the assessment according to the guidelines and interpret the results.
• Include the actual instrument and results.
• Based on your results, explain how you could improve your conflict management behaviors and under what conditions.
• Based on your results, explain how improving your conflict managment behaviors might translate into actual behaviors at the workplace? And what might be the results of such an improvement?

4             Assignment Expectations

Your paper will be evaluated on the following points:

• Precision - Does the paper address the question(s) or task(s)?
• Breadth - Is the full breadth of the subject, i.e., the Keys to the Assignment, addressed?
• Depth - Does the paper address the topic in sufficient depth and include the background readings and other background resources as references?
• Critical thinking - Is the subject thought about critically, i.e., accurately, logically, relevantly, and precisely?
• Clarity - Is the writing clear and are the concepts articulated properly? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the questions or are points conveyed through excessive use of quotations?
• Organization - Is the paper well written? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are headings included in all papers longer than two pages?
• Referencing (citations and references) - Does the paper include citations and quotation marks where appropriate? Are the references from the background readings and assignment present and properly cited? Are all the references listed in the bibliography present and referred to via citation?
• Application - Are the concepts of the module appropriately applied to the subject?

5             Tips and Suggestions

Please note the following tips and suggestions:

• Include a cover page and reference page in addition to the 2–3 pages of analysis described above.
• Include headings for all papers longer than two pages (basically all papers), but do not use headings as "space fillers."
• Cite and reference all sources that you use in your work, including those that you do not quote but paraphrase. This means include citations and quotation marks for direct quotes of more than five words, and include citations for information that you have "borrowed" or paraphrased from other sources.
• Follow TUI Guidelines for well-written papers. (If you are unsure of what those guidelines are, see The Elements of a Well Written Paper).

Submit your analysis by the end of this module.