PART $6$: CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STYLE $(7$ Marks$)$

Matt Stawnichy manages $30$ clerical workers in a large mail order business. Recently, Matt has developed an interest in introducing a compressed workweek schedule, but in informal discussions with the three supervisors who would be responsible for implementing the compressed workweek, Matt learns that only one supervisor supports the plan and the other two are against it$.$

Matt's compressed workweek would have employees work $10$ hours per day for $4$ days a week instead of $8$ hours per day for $5$ days a week.

Now, Matt is considering the alternatives listed below that he might use to manage this conflict situation. Matt has worked with the supervisor team for quite some time and trusts them implicitly. He believes that the supervisors have the company's best interest at heart and understands that there is a lot of time to decide on the 'issue.

What conflict handling styles are represented by each of Matt's alternatives? Use one of the following five choices for each blank: Avoiding, compromising, forcing, problem solving or yielding. $(5$ Marks$)$

a$)$ Give in to the $2$ supervisors so as to not cause problems within the department.

Style:

b$)$ Work out an agreement where the new schedule occurs for a while, is stopped for a while, and so on$,$ thus allowing each person to have his or her way some of the time.

Style:

c$)$ Announce to the supervisors that the compressed workweek will begin immediately.

Style:

d$)$ Drop the idea about any change for now and revisit the issue later.

Style:

e$)$

Organize a meeting at which all relevant issues will be raised and encourage an honest dialogue in order to work out the best possible situation for all parties involved.

Style:

Which style is most appropriate for this situation and why? $(2$ marks$)$