CASE 2

The assessment for Organizational Behavior consists of an examination [50% of module mark] and two cases [50% of module mark]. This assessment is Case 2 and worth 25% of your mark.

ASSIGNMENT

Read Case 11.3, pp. 350-351, in your text. Answer the following questions about the case.
1. Describe the conflict in this case.
The conflict in this case is a relationship conflict resulted mainly from a lack in the emotional intelligence from the Greek Team side. The Greek Team who are college students were making demeaning comments against the materials produced by the experienced workers without paying attention to the experienced worker’s feeling.

2. Using the conflict model in Chapter 11, a) identify the structural causes of the conflict
There are two causes:
I. Differentiation:
There is a cultural difference between the young generation “ the Greek Team” and the older workers. The Greek team which are college students considered throwing the comments even if those comments are demeaning comments ,as described in the case, against the older worker’s work will be accepted.
II. Communication Problem:
The Greek Team members lacked the necessary skills of communication. It was supposed from them to communicate with the older workers diplomatically rather than arrogantly.
Unfortunately, The Greek Team’s manner for the way of dealing with the older workers impacted negatively on the overall performance of Tamarack Industry and ultimately it may decrease customers satisfaction level.

b) discuss the escalation of the conflict. As a part of the conflict episodes is the conflict escalation and this was shown obviously in our case. However, the conflict escalation passed through different stages. The stages are arranged based on the time of their appearance: • Stage 1: Low morale The experienced workers became resentful • Second 2: Compliant. Mr. Dan received complaints from the experienced workers • Level 3: Resistant(Passive)
The experienced workers refused to work on short productions runs only. They asked to distribute the short runs and long runs between the groups equally • Level 4: Resistant (Active).
The experienced workers aimed to retaliate with sabotage. Their intention was to slow or stop the production line of the Greek Team

3. Would bringing in a third party help resolve the conflict? If no, why not? If yes, what kind of third party intervention would you suggest?
Yes, I recommend for a third party intervention. Mr. Dan is a neutral person to conflicting parties and he can represent the Third-Party Conflict Resolution. The kind of intervention that I would suggest is Mediation due to it offers the highest satisfaction with process and outcomes.

4. What would is the best conflict resolution style to apply?
The best conflict resolution that I would suggest to apply is Problem-Solving. The reasons of selecting Problem-Solving approach are as follows: • The interest of both parties are not totally opposing. Both parties aim to maximize the benefit of Tadamark Industry • It aims to find a solution that will be financial for this conflict. This is can be done by avoiding breaking up the Greek Team as well as offer them a short course explaining how to deal with people effectively in the workplace. • It has the win-win orientation. Both parties at the end will be satisfactory.

5. Discuss a business situation in which you have seen or experienced conflict. Propose a solution using a conflict resolution method discuss in the chapter. Why did you select this method?
REAL CASE FROM MY WORKING LIFE
There is a live example which I have experienced with it in my working life. I am working in process engineering department as process engineer. The conflict happens usually if we as process engineers recommend to increase any particular plant productivity due to there is a high demand in the market as well as our study reveals that the plant is capable to handle this increment in the production. The conflict happens when Operation engineers taking care for that intended plant refuse to increase the plant productivity due to the reasons mentioned below. • They would face a shortage in the raw material required to comply with the long term commitment. • Maintenance works will raise up once the plant productivity gets increase more than normal and this is a natural phenomena. Operation engineers are not aware Maintenance department has the capability to handle up normal number of maintenance works without impacting reliability.

ANSWER The conflict is constructive. It aims at the end to improve responsiveness of all disciplines in case of any upset that may could happen. Structural Source of Conflict: It is under incompatible goals source of conflict. Process engineers aim to utilize the chance of market demand and produce more product. On the other hand, operation engineers aim to run the plant smoothly without any possible upset. Conflict Handling Styles: Based on the experience, the perfect handling style is Problem-Solving. Both parties, we as process engineers and operation engineers have the same goal which is maximizing the benefit of SABIC. Structural Approaches to Conflict Resolution The main two approaches will be as following: • Increase resources Process engineers tend to provide operation engineers by the required study to make sure that the plant can achieve the targeted new production safely and effectively. • Clarify the Rules and Procedures The third party is responsible to furnish operation and process engineers by the rules and procedures governing the consumption and production targets within the plant.

Third Party Intervention:

planning department specialists represent the third party for conflict resolution. They follow typically Inquisitional Strategy to resolve the conflict. The reasons of applying Inquisitional Strategy are as follows: • Planning specialists have a contact with raw material suppliers and they check if there enough raw material quantities • Planning specialists can forecast the real market demand from the products • Planning department is responsible to approve the budget asked by maintenance department if more manpower is required.