Globalization Prerequisite: Based on this week\'s reading assignment plus some t

Question

Globalization

Prerequisite: Based on this week's reading assignment plus some thoughtful reflection on your current (or a former) work environment, answer the following questions:

1.) Describe a conflict you observed or participated in on the job; ideally one involving parties from different backgrounds or cultures.

2.) What conflict resolution strategies did you observe from each party? Which, in your view, were effective and why? Which were ineffective and why?

3.) Using one or more of the tips from this week's reading, how might either party have approached the situation differently to achieve a more positive resolution?

Explanation / Answer

1. I have observed a conflict in my job last month where two of my colleagues had a fight over the language used by the other because the word used by one was offensive in other’s culture. Conflict started as a small dispute but later it developed into a big fight and both were warned by the management.

2. I observed competing strategy from both the parties. Both were trying to compete with each other and establish that their side was correct. The party who made the offensive comment tried to establish that his culture is right and the word cannot be considered offensive. But the other party was not ready to accept the same. The strategy adopted by both the parties were ineffective because in the case of cultural conflicts, a competing strategy would lead to more conflict than resolving and worsen the situation.

3. Both the parties might have approached the situation with a compromising strategy because both the cultures should be treated equally and when there is two equally powered parties in a conflict, a compromising strategy would work. Both the parties had to understand that the language and words may depend upon the cultural background of each other and compromise on them understanding the meaning in both the cultures. Once they understand and compromise in the first instant, next time both would be more careful while making such comments and getting into conflict.

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