Conflict-handling styles
There are five styles for conflict management:
Collaborating: This style emphasises a win-win solution that gets the greatest satisfaction for both parties. This style is high in assertiveness and high cooperation.
Compromising: This style is an either win-win, lose-win or win-lose solution. The settlement either meets the needs and goals of both parties and both are satisfied with the outcome or when the settlement meets the needs and goals of only one party and the other party is not satisfied with the outcome.
Competing: This style leads to a win-lose outcome. It is high on assertiveness and low on cooperation. The person with the power dominates the decision. If used improperly, this style will increase conflict.
Avoiding: This style leads to a lose-lose outcome. It is low on assertiveness and low on cooperation. The person withdraws from the conflict.
Accommodating: This style leads to a lose-win outcome. It is low on assertiveness and high on cooperation. The person suppresses his or her own needs and works toward giving the other entity what it needs.
One conflict-handling style used in this scenario
From Robert’s approach towards Kay, the conflict-handling styles that he is adopting is competing style.
Despite Kay willing to sit down with Robert and talk about how his team can get involved in the new project, Robert is adamant that his team needs to be compensated with a momentary increase and he even threatens Kay that he will get the union involved if his request is unsuccessful. This show a win-lose outcome as Robert is using his power as a union to dominates the decision. Robert is not giving in and refuses to consider other options.
Choose one of the characters and determine which bargaining approach is used. How did you determine that?
From Kay approach towards Robert, she is using integrative bargaining approach. As Kay looks for win-win opportunities. she tries to work together to determine who gets what, use fair principles and use reason, yield to principle and not pressure as she is willing to sit down with Robert and talk about how his team can get involved in the new project and from there, be able to get new jobs opportunities, some overseas assignments and even promotions to various leadership positions.
What aspect of interpersonal communication is contributing to the poor working environment?
In this aspect, Robert is the person that is contributing to the poor working environment as he is lack of listening skill. Robert did not try to even listen and consider to what Kay is offering. He did not try to put himself in Kay’s shoe on what Kay is suggesting.
Robert should try to negotiate with Kay if he is not satisfied with Kay’s offering instead of trying to threaten her by getting Union group to involve if his request is not successful.
Hall’s Context Model
From the Hall’s Context Model, Robert behaviour is considered as low context culture. The way Robert communicate is more direct and confrontational. He is more individualistic as he only thinks of what benefits him. He does not standing in Kay’s shoe. He does not care about his long-term relationships with Kay and threaten Kay by getting Union group to involve if his request is not granted.
References:
Moriarty, T. (2019). The 5 styles of conflict management. [online] Plant Services. Available at: https://www.plantservices.com/articles/2018/human-capital-5-styles-of-conflict-management/ [Accessed 2 Aug. 2019].
Xinhui’s blog 
Hey XInhui!
Love the inclusion of Ron Swanson GIFs in your blogpost. His the perfect example of Robert in the character he depicted in Parks & Recreation! Similar to Robert, their conflict handling style is competing and they both do not give in to others. If everyone adopted a integrative bargaining approach like Kay, every workplace will be a good environment to be in. Like the GIF you posted, Robert has poor listening skills and it contributes to a poor working environment. He should have stopped and gave Kay a chance to explain to him what he gets in the long run. Maybe an even higher pay grade? or way better job prospects than now? Similar to you, I believe Robert’s behavior showed that he comes from a low context culture due to his individualistic thoughts. Great blog post and keep up the amazing posts!
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Hi Xin Hui, I like the way you explain conflict-handling style, and I also like the way you used pictures to explain the different models. I do agree with the points you have stated and the reference you used to determine which style, approach and context the characters used. However, through your blog post, I feel that you are more towards Kay’s point of view. Although I do agree with all the answers given, I think that maybe Kay should have said something about the plan of the company to expand and diversify using the profit earned. Maybe this way, Robert would have better understand where Kay was coming from and be less aggressive on the pay raise. Either way, all of your blog posts are very good! Good job and see you around. ☺
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Hey XinHui!
I read through your case study blog post and I think most of your views are similar to mine. We both agreed that Robert was adopting a competing style of conflict management and how he threatened to bring it up to the union if she does not comply. You also explained all the different types of conflict handling styles at the very beginning of your post which is essential for the reader to understand before they can move on to read your post about conflict management. I like the images and gifs that you used, they are very clear and relatable in what kind of message you are trying to bring across!
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Hi Xin Hui, i think your post is great. Your description on the conflict-handling styles is very detailed and easy to understand. It is also nice that you include pictures for easier understanding. I agree to a large extent that Robert is from the low context culture as he was very aggressive on getting the pay raise for his team regardless of what Kay wants to say. I personally feel that the way Robert does his work is very unreasonable, he did not think from another point of view. Technically it is not wrong to ask for a pay raise, but he could have chosen a less aggressive way to approach it. Personally i think that Robert is the kind of worker that make works tiring.
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