Conflict Management and Leadership: Case Study Analysis and Solutions

This case study delves into conflict resolution and management, examining various scenarios and providing practical solutions. The assignment explores the development of self-awareness, analytical and creative problem-solving skills, and the management of conflict within organizational settings. It presents multiple cases, including a clothing manufacturing company facing internal conflicts and a firm undergoing organizational changes. The analysis covers influencing techniques, emotional intelligence, and approaches to leading positive change. The assignment emphasizes the importance of communication, leadership, and adaptability in navigating challenging situations and fostering a positive work environment. The student provides detailed responses, outlining strategies for addressing conflicts, improving employee morale, and implementing changes effectively. The analysis also includes creative problem-solving techniques, such as identifying creative analogies and adapting to new procedures within an organization.

Analyze situations of
conflict and come up
with a solution

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1 Development of self awareness................................................................................................2
2 Solving problems Analytically and creatively..........................................................................3
3.Managing Conflict....................................................................................................................7
4. Leading positive change..........................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Conflicts can be defined as an argument and clash between individuals that occurs due to
different though process, misunderstanding and other reasons (Schmidts, Foerster and Kunde,
2018). This study is divided into 4 parts that will show different types of conflicts and reasons. 4
Different types of conflict which required different types of skills. Chapter 1 is all about
requirement of influencing skills and development of self awareness for solving the problem.
There is a lack of self awareness that creates some problems for employees. This chapter and
case is based on North-western division of a large clothing manufacturing company. Next
chapter 3 is all about of solving Problems Analytically and Creatively skills. This is based on
Boise firm. Solving the problem regarding changing the old organizational system with valid
proof and reason. With the help of change management model and identifying creative analogy it
will help out in solving the problem of changing management system of Boise firm. Chapter 7
is all about managing conflicts skills which is based on a case study. It shows some approaches
of conflict resolutions and influencing capabilities. The main aim of managing conflict skill is to
solve the problem related to stop outside factors that disturbs employees of an organization. It
will also show importance of implementing different approaches of conflict resolution and
increase capabilities to manage any type of situation. Last chapter and chapter 10 is related to
leading positive change skills which plays an important role in making changes according to
changes in internal and external factors. This chapter is based on large sausage manufacturing
company. By establishing a climate of positivity and implementing change model they solve the
problem (Brief, 2019).
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1 Development of self awareness
In this situation I have to be very careful because my boss is thinking that I have use
money for enjoyment and I was doing party with friends and they were not potential clients so it
will be hard for me to make them understand and give them proper proof to the my boss ((Frich
and et.al., 2015). I also have proven that this all were related to the business
Emotional intelligence can also be helpful for me if I tell like Sir sorry for all I have done
but sir I have done this all for our company because I make relation with some people who were
their in the meeting and they all were all come to find manufacture of clothing and I was thinking
that if we get some deal from them then it will be very beneficial for company when meeting end
they I invite them for party so I can get interesting deals with them and I pay all the bills from
company account because company was paying my all the expanses in Chicago and I did not
take my personal money (Weisberg, 2018). This emotional statement can make the boss
understand and take me out from this situation.
If I want to come out from this situation then I can tell them some sensitive lines like sir
I did some mistake and I wanted to tell you about this all but that day I was drunk and in that
condition (Cybulski and et.al., 2015). I was using company account for part and when I wake up
then I come to know what I have done it is wrong but I was scared from you and if you want Sir
will pay company for my mistake which I have done last year meeting.
Confidence with your statement can be helpful to come out from this situation. I can talk
with boss that sir they were my fends because I am working in this industry from many years and
in this all time I have make many friends in this industry and have good contacts with them . I
am also having some friends from Chicago and they all are our company clients because of same
profession they come for meeting we were third so I invite them all to come with me take
dinner with me ((Frich and et.al., 2015). After dinner I pay bill from company account because I
came to attend our company meeting and company was paying my all the bills that's why I did
not bring money from home and I cannot go again and again Chicago so I though I will pay all
the bill from company 's account when I will come back they I will pay company' s money but I
forget about this all because I have many responsibility's on my head and I hope u can
understand my situation.
Boss is asking for a proof and I can provide him the bill of the hotel where we go for
party and can find the contact number of clients who where present in the party. If boos will talk
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to them then he can believe on me. Company have all the contacts of their clients and they have
all the record of their clients (Weisberg, 2018). I can tell him that I am manger of the company
and they are potential clients and it is my responsibility to give them treat so we can build more
relation with our clients.
I will show the list of all the clients who were present in the party and show him show
him their purchase details (Cybulski and et.al., 2015). I will show them how much sales increase
after the last year . It will make boss believe that I am not telling lie to him.
I can share my experience to my boss that I am working in this industry from many
years and I am manager of the company because I have ability and skills to to understand
which of our clits have potential or not during the meeting I was looking for better clients for our
company and I find some clients who were dealing with manufacture in all over the world and
they are taking an order in bulk it can be beneficial for our company ((Frich and et.al., 2015). It
was important for me that time convene them and tell them about our company so our company
can get bitter and bigger deals from them for make a good relation with them I invite them for a
party. I was able to convene them and some of them are become our clients and they are main
reason for our company growth (Weisberg, 2018). I have did this all for our company and in the
result we get some clients who are giving us good business and we are giving good competition
to our competitors. If I am giving proper reason to them then they have to understand that why I
have done this all so company can get better clients and they can create a good reputation in the
market.
2 Solving problems Analytically and creatively
Problem
Changes are necessary for the growth of business; each firm makes necessary changes in
its operations so that it can work better and can gain competitive advantage. Boss of Boise firm
wants to make necessary changes in the existing practices of organization. Boss want to make
changes in system, scheduling and budgeting process which is not easy to be accepted by
employees because people do not want to work in changed working atmosphere as they feel
unfamiliar with it.
There are many factors that creates problems in implementing changes in the workplace
effectively. Improper planning is the major block which demotivate workers and they resist from
changes. Due to poor planning people fails to understand necessity of changes in the workplace
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hence they do not accept modification so easily. This thing crate problem in accepting changes
like modification in budgeting process and scheduling.
Low employee morale is the block to creativity, people do not like to work in new
environment if they are highly satisfied with the existing atmosphere. As boss of Boise firm
wants to bring improvement in business unit, for that it is very important to raise moral of staff
members. Poor moral of staff members is the block to creativity, due to this, nobody will be able
to accept changes and boos will not be able to bring creativity in business unit. Communication
is another block to creativity, if people don’t coordinate with each other in proper manner then
they will be confused which will make them negative towards the brand (Raiyn and Tilchin,
2015). Employees in every organization like to get information about the goal of business unit, if
they get very detail then they will feel happy and will support management.
In the problem solving models analytical approaches helps to differentiate facts and
opinions so that its underlying causes can be identified. In the second step alternative solutions
are generated for solving the problem. At this stage perspectives of others are also taken into
account for developing long and short term solutions of problems. These possible solutions must
be evaluated on the basis of creativity and principles of analytical concepts. The evaluation helps
to identify the main ideas and possible drawbacks. However, the effectiveness of solution of
problems cannot be assured until regular follow up of problem is not taken into account. There
must be effective monitoring systems and feedback opportunities. While solving problems
several constraints may occur in these stages such as issues related to acceptance of problem,
lack of consensus, limited alternatives, cost factors and resistance to change. Creativity among
people can be of various types such as stereotypes, mental constraints and negligence to
commonalities
Ineffective leadership is the block in creativity, if leaders don’t lead their workers in
effective manner or don’t make them understand the importance of changes at workplace then
they will not accept such modification so easily. Creativity gives positive result to organization
but if boss of Boise firm doesn’t lead workers well then it may enhance their resistance and
people will not accept such modification. That is what happen in the present scenario, as boss
wanted to make changes in existing practices and scheduling process but due to ineffective
leadership people were unaware with the fact with benefits of such changes. Hence it makes
them feel comfortable and they resist to accept changes creative element in business. Language
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issues or cultural problems are another block to creativity in Boise firm. As if boss don’t
understand the culture of other staff members and will not treat them accordingly then they may
not accept such modification which will bring negativity at workplace hence it is essential to
respect each person and treat them well so people support the management in very changing
situation.
To solve the problem I will try to enhance my approach to accept the things from the
creative perspective. I have been in the old scenario from the last five years and thus the changes
proposed by my boss seems to be unacceptable and less convenient to me. I must make steps to
identify the creative analogy. Since boss have changes various procedures of reporting and
meeting I must try to adopt openness and broad thinking. For this purpose I can communicate
with her directly or with other colleagues to discuss the possible advantages and positive benefits
of her implemented changes. This openness and acceptable will help me to understand the
ideology of her ideas.
Though I feel very unpleasant with the changes made by her but a slight change in my
attitude will give a valuable contribution in regaining the analogy. The creativity can assist in
understanding the emotions and concepts related to an object so that better decisions can be
made and problems can be solved easily (Gilhooly, Ball and Macchi, 2015). At present I have
strong perceptions about her that changes implemented by her uncomfortable for me. However
with assessment of creative analogy I will be able to gain better and accurate learnings of facts
and problem. It will also enhance creativity in me so that I can explore the relationship between
existing and previous methodologies. In order to come up with more creativity I must understand
that one individual cannot have real and all perceptions related to particular object or method.
Thus I can use analogy to compare the various similarities and differences so that instead
of solving problem from only my perspective I can identify and solve it from the actual or
innovative perspective. The problem cannot be solved if I will be continuously criticising the
new approach. However I can come up with more creative solutions for the problem. For this
purpose the first approach which I must adopt is to change the perspective I identify the issue.
Instead of having negative view I must use analogy so that I can also assess the positive aspects
regarding changes.
When I will change my perspective it will also reflected in new visuals, my actions,
language and functional or strategic actions. This approach will be significantly helpful in
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assisting me in evaluating creativity and innovations in problem solving. Use of visuals to
enhance understanding and comparison, language refinement, and changing attitude towards the
problem can be highly valuable in terms of creative solutions for the problem. The analogy based
creativity also helps in making creative and logical decisions so that more accurate and effective
decisions can be taken to solve the problem (Cybulski and et.al., 2015). When I will adopt a
positive attitude that the implemented changes are for the betterment of organisation as well as
for providing me a new opportunity of learning then it will naturally assist me in easily solving
issues. A changed perspective is also vital in terms of motivating for problem solving. With
negative attitude the problem seems to be more complex and thus becomes hard to solve. If I will
have positive perspective then it will definitely lead me to easily understand the simpler solutions
for the problem through creative means.
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3.Managing Conflict
The process to increase positive impact of the conflicts and decreasing negative impact is
called conflict management. The conflict management mainly focuses on enhancing learning &
group outcomes which includes increasing performance & effectiveness in organisational setting.
As my neighbour talk loudly on the phone, the various steps being an employee I could take are:
By forcing I could satisfy my needs of not capable to listening talking at such a high pitch. Or I
could take this issue of conflict to the higher authority, who will then take accurate actions
against the misbehaviour she is creating. And through this approach I could finally feel
vindicated, and my neighbour felt defeated .
By avoiding mode includes taking a uncooperative & unassertive approach of this conflict. In
most cases this step is taken to reduce the chances of conflict, which could serve as the best
move. Moreover, course avoiding the conflict by this method could serve as the more fester issue
. Thus the outcome I finally get by using this approach will be nothing or even the situation will
get worse. By using the avoiding approach I might reflect myself as the incapable of handling
emotions of conflicts
By Competing I could solve this issue I.e I being a more assertive in nature and cooperative in
nature I will tend to compete with my neighbour.
By Compromising I could solve this issue of conflict as this is a moderately important issueless
could be solved just by compromising but this serve me only as temporary solution to my
problem.
Forcefully I could fight with my neighbour, but this will give negative impact on mine not only
on her but also to the other employees of my organisation. So I think I could manupulate her by
requesting her to talk politely at a low pitch.
This approach of mine can't satisfy both of us for long run and it is prove to be non effective
situation. The outcome I may get by using this approach is I could show my sportsmanship
quality of mine.
By Accommodating the situation I could solve this issue of conflict as I'm high on
cooperativeness and like peace but it could have negative impact on my image. Might be regular
accommodating will allow my colleague to take me for granted, which could be a serious
problem for me for long run. As my college talks too loudly on the phone, it makes me
uncomfortable to work in such irritating and adverse situation. I had already made him aware
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about the disturbance my colleague is creating in my work. By using this approach I may
preserve my relation with my colleague. The final outcome I may get by adopting these
techniques of conflict resolution is I might be proved to be less powerful, with decrease in
credibility. Thus, she might take me for granted.
After warning my college so many times, he is still with its habits . Thus , I had finally taken the
step to compromise in this situation as I am cooperative type of person rather than assertive type.
Usage of compromising has benefited me in various ways as people feel listen
Type of conflict
According to me its a personal conflict as it is related to only me and my college. Im the only
one facing this problem of disturbance. As my college talking loud on the phone this made me
unable to focus on my work. So many times I get so much frustrated that I have to left the work
undone.
I think that the source of interpersonal conflict is due to personal differences. As I had
already told her that these are not the ethics of working in a corporate sector. Although tell her so
many times that talking loudly is strictly prohibited in this office. Moreover, attending phone
calls not related to this corporate sector is strictly not allowed , but this hasn’t made any change
in her behaviour. She had continued talking on the loud volume, and still she is disturbing me
and my work.
Some time ago, when I heard her talking too loudly on the phone for the first time, I thought she
might be not knowing that her loud pitch is disturbing me and my work and whenever she will
get to know about it, she will stop talking loudly. So I started ignoring her loud voice and
continue to focus on my work. But my this ignorance hasn't worked out for her, as she continued
talking on loud voice. Then I took the step to make her aware of the situation with the hope that
she might talk politely with low pitch. But my this assumption proved to be wrong, making her
aware and warning her so many times about my situation and office ethics she is as same as
earlier.
Some behavioural guideline I must suggest to my neighbour that I don’t want to increase the
conflict by communicating to higher authority for the solution of our personal issue. So I am
using a collaborative approach to minimize this issue at our personal level only.
The best approach according to me that I think I may take here for this conflict would be
compromising. This approach wont solve the issue but it will maintain a healthy relation between
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both of us. This might show that I am less powerful, but as I am not here to show the power. This
compromising approach will although take less time in contrast to solving with various other
approaches of the conflict management.
4. Leading positive change
In the organization there is requirement of change after a particular m of time. There is
the requirement of change in the organization can have the relation with the motive of brining the
change in term to have the clarification towards the vision and development of political support.
The manager warns have the change in the organization as to gain the competitive edge in
market and having the substantially in the momentum. A change management can be plan
support a smooth transition among the company to have the assurance to employees through the
guided journey that is needed to be travel through change. There are facts that has been identified
that there are maximum amounts of change in the organization tents to fails so it is one of the
crucial point that should be taken in consideration by the company to have the proper
management change having the belief to employees. The employee of the sausage company
have more having the consideration that due to the change in the company there will be
downsizing and the lay off of employee in an organization. The employee in the organization
hare having the mental stress as they were not experiencing the organizational change for the
future changes. The employee feels insecure which can be more related to have the proper
understanding for manager to have the change in such as way that it can bring the positive
impact in organization. The employee has the experience related top loss of loyalty along with
increased time-work caused by the restructuring of the company.
There is the requirement for the company manager and leader to bring the positive exchange
among the employee so that there can be acceptability regarding the employee to being the
positive change in employee. This can also help in keeping up the morale of remaining and
unaffected employees by proper communication at each and every step with fairness and the
comparison.
As to build the positive environment in the organization the company manager has to take the
tough action by bloodline to have the stimulation regarding employee feeling towards the
change. The manager will have the proper assessment of team by the introduction of policy or
the procedure of change along with close look out for the prevailing leadership in the company.
The manger should have the avoidance of favouritism to neglect the negative impact of
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employees. The next is the there should be improvement of quality of work in employee along
with encouragement of the team spirit and camaraderie. The queries and the feeling of the
negligence should be answered of every employee, so that there can be improvement of the
actual working environment.
As the change is companion into the organization, the company should have the relaxation over
rigid rules else there will be more of employee turnover. The manger should be more supportive
to have the reactional over the team.
Creating readiness for change.
There can be the employee have the collective desire for the change along with the employees'
behalf that the change is not possible. The ability of the anxiety firm have to proper
accomplished as the ability of existing system within the business to have the accumulation of
change. The soulful be effective communication which will have the efforts to have the
inspiration of change. There will be effective planned short and long term goals along with
proclaim training of the employees . The employee should have the proper reconstruction of
leadership to have the positive affect of the change I the stagnation n among the employees. It is
more important to have the readiness about the static situation which will not slap the facing of
visionary and mission which will helps out in tactics and goal’s to make the changes into
Examining your business’ organizational readiness for change helps you to put tactics and goals
into place that make your change more likely to succeed.
There will be many of the obstacles that will be faced by the company in implementing the
proper change in the organisational to make the change successive along with the employee. The
employee of the sausage company have more having the consideration that due to the change in
the company there will be downsizing and the lay off of employee in an organization. The
employee in the organization hare having the mental stress as they were not experiencing the
organisational change for the future changes. The employee feels insecure which can be more
related to have the proper understanding for manager to have the change in such as way that it
can bring the positive impact in organization.
There are various change management modes which can be applied in implementing
change. So, I decided to analyse PDCA, McKinsey, ADKAR, model, etc. and identified strength
and weakness of each one. So, I gained knowledge on it and then decided to apply one model.
So, it was easy for me to apply one model and lead to positive change
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