Question 1

Rodney always tries to place the interest of others above his own.Rodney typically engages in collaboration.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 2

Research on conflict management only two possible strategies based on the intersection between relationship and goal importance,called collaboration and compromise.

Accepted Answer

Research on conflict management identifies five main strategies based on the intersection between relationship and goal importance: avoiding, accommodating, competing, compromising, and collaborating.

Question 3

Which of the following statements relates to the integrationist view of managing conflict?

Accepted Answer

The integrationist view recognizes the inevitability of conflict but seeks to manage it constructively by finding ways to maintain differences that can drive innovation and change. This is reflected in statement C. Options A and D are extreme views, with A suggesting that conflict should just be accepted and D suggesting that it should always be avoided. Option B is more aligned with the traditionalist view that blames conflict on personal shortcomings rather than seeing it as a natural occurrence.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true about conflicts?

Accepted Answer

Effective managers should not shy away from conflict. They should view it as an opportunity to identify and address issues, improve communication, and create positive change. However, they should also know how to manage conflict constructively to avoid negative outcomes such as hostility and frustration. Thus, option A, C, and D are incorrect.

Question 5

As a manager,setting limits and communicating consequences adds to the existence of conflicts.

Accepted Answer

Setting limits and communicating consequences clearly can actually help prevent conflicts by establishing clear expectations and boundaries, which can reduce misunderstandings and disagreements.

Question 6

The fact that different business units within one organization have different expectations and operating principles is itself a source of conflict.

Accepted Answer

It is true that different business units within an organization can have different goals, priorities, and ways of operating, which can lead to conflicts and challenges in coordinating and aligning efforts.

Question 7

Research shows that focusing on others first,and managing others' expectations has been linked to the increased occurrence of conflicts.

Accepted Answer

Research actually shows that focusing on others first and managing others' expectations can lead to decreased occurrence of conflicts. This is because it promotes better communication and understanding among individuals, which can prevent misunderstandings and disagreements.

Question 8

The human relations view of conflict holds that a degree of conflict can be a positive force for change within an organization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The human relations view of conflict holds...

Question 9

Providing employees with sufficient information can help to reduce potential conflicts.

Accepted Answer

When employees have all the necessary information about their job responsibilities, company policies and procedures, and other relevant matters, they are more likely to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions. This reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings and conflicts arising from lack of knowledge or miscommunication.

Question 10

The employees at Carlton Motors have not received a pay hike in one year as the company was incurring losses.Several conflicts have arisen between the management and staff over the lack of competitive salaries.These conflicts are likely to be a result of:

Accepted Answer

The conflicts between the management and staff over the lack of competitive salaries are likely a result of limited resources, as the company has been incurring losses and may not have the financial means to offer pay raises.

Question 11

According to the traditional view of conflict management:

Accepted Answer

The traditional view of conflict management posits that conflict is a result of poor management practices and should be prevented or eliminated at its source. This perspective sees conflict as harmful and disruptive to organizational functioning.

Question 12

The easiest conflicts to resolve are those that deal with conflicting views on values and beliefs.

Accepted Answer

Conflicts related to values and beliefs can be deeply ingrained and difficult to resolve as they are often closely tied to a person's identity and core principles.

Question 13

Managers should create a climate and culture at work that support constructive conflict-encouraging the clash of ideas and developing processes,training,and tools that help people work through their inevitable differences with each other.

Accepted Answer

It is important for managers to create an environment that fosters constructive conflict and encourages the clash of ideas. This helps to build a culture of collaboration and innovation within the workplace. Managers can achieve this by developing processes, providing training, and offering tools to help employees work through their differences in a productive and positive way.

Question 14

Effective managers are those who are selective as to which conflicts they choose to pursue.

Accepted Answer

Effective managers understand that not all conflicts are worth pursuing and use their discernment to prioritize and address conflicts based on their significance and impact on their team or organization. This allows them to avoid wasting time and resources on trivial disputes and instead focus on resolving conflicts that can make a difference.

Question 15

The competing strategy of conflict resolution may be effective when unpopular decisions need implementing.

Accepted Answer

The competing strategy, also known as the forcing strategy, involves using assertiveness and aggression to win a conflict. While it may not be the most collaborative or cooperative approach to conflict resolution, in some cases it may be necessary to implement unpopular decisions or push for action on urgent matters. Therefore, it can be effective in certain situations.

Question 16

When the relationship is more important than the goal,the accommodating strategy of conflict resolution is the most effective.

Accepted Answer

The accommodating strategy involves sacrificing one's own goals for the sake of maintaining a positive relationship with the other party. This can be effective when the relationship is more important than the goal, such as in situations where long-term partnerships or friendships are at stake.

Question 17

Conflict is a fact of life in organizations._____ sometimes reflects an "I don't care" attitude that can lead to stagnation on the job.

Accepted Answer

Lack of creative tension refers to a situation where the absence of conflict or differing viewpoints leads to complacency and an unwillingness to challenge the status quo. This can result in a lack of innovation and growth within the organization. Increased cohesion (A) refers to a situation where there is unity and cooperation among team members, which may be desirable, but not at the expense of critical thinking and constructive conflict. Overexposure to facts (B) may be a contributing factor to conflict, but it is not necessarily a reflection of a "I don't care" attitude. Values clarification (D) is a process through which individuals and groups identify and prioritize their values, which may help prevent or manage conflicts, but it is not directly related to the statement in the question.

Question 18

In some cases conflict initially reduces cohesion that can in turn reduce the likelihood of "groupthink" occurring.

Accepted Answer

Conflict can lead to a break down in cohesion, but this can actually be beneficial by allowing for divergent opinions and perspectives to be heard. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of "groupthink," which occurs when a group strives for consensus and conformity at the expense of considering other ideas and options. Therefore, conflict can actually increase creativity and innovation by generating healthy debate and discussion.

Question 19

Conflicts are inevitable;hence,they should be accepted as there is little managers can do to minimize the occurrence.

Accepted Answer

While conflicts are indeed inevitable, managers still have the responsibility to identify and address them as they arise. It is important to have conflict management procedures in place to minimize the negative impact of conflicts on the workplace. Additionally, effective communication and leadership can also play a role in preventing and addressing conflicts.

Question 20

When faced with severe time restrictions on finishing a team project,collaboration would be the most effective conflict strategy.

Accepted Answer

Collaboration is time-consuming as it involves finding a win-win solution for all parties, which may not be feasible under severe time constraints.

Quiz 11: Managing Conflict