A review of the conflict situation depicted in discussion question 1 has several inherent flaws in the method and medium of communication used by the management. Within the complexities of organizational issues and the dynamics of a work force, communication is most crucial in the smooth and cohesive administration of the business and the realization of its goals.
The dysfunctional conflict that occurred between the management and workers union within the organizational structure of the machinist company was as a result of a faulty communication method. First, for there to be communication there must be a credible medium and process between the sender and the receiver. For effective communication, there must be adequate consideration of the perception of the intended message that is the feedback from the receiver should be consistent with the original message. In the case of the manager and CEO of the machinist company, he failed to select the appropriate match between the content of the message and the media used in communicating. A two way face to face communication is the richest form of communication (Kreitner and Kinicki 2013). This method is used when confronted with complex situations and bad news like pay cuts and layoffs and encourages everyone affected to be present and hear the bad news directly from the CEO. Instead of the horizontal method applied by the CEO, delegating his crucial responsibility to the union, he should have used the vertical and face to face method in communicating with the workers. The reason is that the information would have come directly from him to the workers and prevented any ambiguities and misinformation.
These uninformed communication method created a vacuum in the line of communication between the management and the workers and gave the union workers the opportunity to capitalize and exploit the situation in the anticipation of more gains in the negotiation process.
To prevent such situation from occurring, the organizational management should know the options and relevance of the different types and method of communication. For instance, the COE should have established some form or informal communication that would have bridged the gap between the workers and his management thereby reducing the influence and possibility of unions disseminating false information. The practice of town hall meetings, open door policies and Management by Walking Around, (MBWA). This will give the CEO a better understanding of his workers personal challenges and their expectations from his management. It will build trust and cohesiveness in the working relationship.
References:
Kreitner, R. and Kinicki, A. (2013). Organizational Behavior (10th Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill / Irwin.