Running Head: Conflict, Decision Making, and Organizational Design

Conflict, Decision Making, and Organizational Design
Strayer University

BUS 520

1. Discuss how you could apply negotiation strategies to address potential conflicts in the workplace.
The primary focus at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is patient/Veteran care and establishing new Veteran enrollees. This is done by direct marketing among other forms of outreach. For VA, negotiation will be important in not only establishing a new enrollee, but keeping that enrollee as well. According to Hellriegel and Slocum, integrative negotiations are used to “achieve results that benefit both parties” (2011, p.397). By consistently explaining and showing Veterans the benefits, they gain by maintaining their health care through VA, and how the outcome will benefit them, VA will continue to receive the federal funding to continue sustained operations for the coming years.

According to Hellriegel and Slocum in order for integrative negotiations to be successful, VA should follow these principles:

* Separate the people from the problem- VA’s staff must not allow their personal issues with Veterans to interfere with the negotiation process instead focus on the issue at hand.

* Focus on interests, not positions – Understand the needs and interests of the clients instead of being concerned about title.

* Invent options for mutual gains- This is where creative decision making comes into play. By presenting the client with several alternatives to meet their needs, Winston has a better chance of finding one that the client finds appealing.

* Insist on using objective criteria – When dealing with marketing, it is imperative that goals are measurable and obtainable.

2. Determine how evidence-based management could be applied to the work environment you researched.
Evidence-based management is