Dealing with conflict and the resulting negotiations within your team.

Full Answer Section

Resolution Outcome: Alex is ultimately chosen for the lead role. While he gets what he wants, the team's morale suffers. Beth feels undervalued and resentful, impacting her future performance and potentially leading her to seek opportunities elsewhere. The project, while completed, is marked by tension and a lack of collaboration.

2. Collaborative (Integrative) Negotiation:

Conflict: The marketing team needs the design team to create new promotional materials for an upcoming product launch. The marketing team wants a quick turnaround, while the design team is already overloaded with other projects and needs more time to produce high-quality work.

Approach: Both teams adopt a collaborative approach. They hold a joint meeting where they openly discuss their needs and constraints. They focus on finding a solution that benefits both teams. The marketing team agrees to provide the design team with all the necessary information and assets upfront. The design team, in turn, commits to prioritizing the promotional materials and providing regular updates on their progress.

Resolution Outcome: The two teams reach a mutually beneficial agreement. The marketing team gets their materials in a timely manner, and the design team is able to manage their workload effectively. The collaboration strengthens the relationship between the two teams and leads to a successful product launch.

3. Accommodating Negotiation:

Conflict: Two team members, Chris and Dana, disagree on the best approach to solving a technical problem. Chris, the more experienced team member, believes his approach is the most efficient, while Dana has a different idea that she believes is more innovative.

Approach: Dana, recognizing that Chris has more experience and that time is of the essence, adopts an accommodating approach. She agrees to go along with Chris's approach, even though she still believes her idea has merit. She prioritizes team harmony and avoids a potential conflict that could delay the project.

Resolution Outcome: The team proceeds with Chris's approach, which ultimately proves successful. While Dana's idea is not implemented, she learns from the experience and builds a stronger working relationship with Chris. She decides to revisit her idea later, when there is more time for exploration.

4. Avoiding Negotiation:

Conflict: Two team members, Emily and Frank, have a personality clash. They frequently bicker about minor issues, creating tension within the team. Neither is willing to back down or compromise.

Approach: The team leader, recognizing that these are interpersonal conflicts rather than project-related disagreements, adopts an avoiding approach. She chooses not to intervene, hoping that the two team members will eventually resolve their differences on their own.

Resolution Outcome: The conflict between Emily and Frank continues, creating a negative atmosphere within the team. Other team members feel uncomfortable and their productivity is affected. The unresolved conflict eventually escalates, requiring intervention from HR and potentially leading to disciplinary action.

Sample Answer

Here are five scenarios demonstrating different negotiation approaches, each including the conflict, the chosen approach, and the resolution outcome:

1. Competitive (Distributive) Negotiation:

Conflict: Two team members, Alex and Beth, are vying for the lead role on a high-profile project. Both believe they have the necessary skills and experience. The project lead position comes with a significant bonus and increased visibility within the company, making the stakes high.

Approach: Alex adopts a competitive negotiation style. He emphasizes his past successes and downplays Beth's contributions. He uses aggressive language in team meetings, subtly