Conflict Resolution in the Workplace: Google Case Study Journals

This assignment presents two journal entries analyzing workplace conflicts within Google. The first journal discusses employee walkouts protesting the company's treatment of women, specifically focusing on a high-profile executive's payout despite sexual misconduct allegations. It applies the approach/avoidance conflict theory to understand the situation and suggests that the company needs to address the ethical concerns by providing justice to the women. The second journal examines the case of two employees placed on administrative leave, linking it to the Rummel's structural model and its phases of conflict. The assignment emphasizes the impact of management decisions on employee morale and productivity and suggests that the company should take steps to eliminate the conflict by consulting the employees before taking action. Both journals provide insights into conflict resolution, ethical considerations, and the importance of fair treatment in the workplace. The assignment uses various sources like BBC and CNBC news articles along with academic journals and books to support the analysis.

Managing Workplace
Conflict
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Table of Contents
Journal 1...........................................................................................................................................3
Describe the case of the conflict/dispute.....................................................................................3
Take theories from Chapter 1 to examine the conflict/dispute...................................................3
Put your own outlook as to how the issue can be resolved.........................................................3
Journal 2...........................................................................................................................................4
Describe the case of the conflict/dispute.....................................................................................4
Take theories from Chapter 1 to examine the conflict/dispute...................................................4
Put your own outlook as to how the issue can be resolved.........................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
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Journal 1
Describe the case of the conflict/dispute
The present case is relating to the news that the several of employees within Google have
walked out of their position within the company relating to the protest against the company. This
information has been adopted from the media BBC news (Google staff walks out over women’s
treatment, 2018). The major reason for this conflict among the employees of Google and the
company and its management was relating to the treatment of women within the company. The
case was that one high profile Executive of company left the company and the payout to him was
$90 million. The walkout was because of the fact that this person was alleged to have done
sexual misconduct and even then he was paid so much payout for leaving the company. Along
with this almost 48 other employees also sacked for sexual harassment without receiving the
payout and because of this many employees protested against the company.
Take theories from Chapter 1 to examine the conflict/dispute
As per The Dollar/Millar model, there are three types of conflicts, namely-
Approach/approach, Approach/avoidance and Avoidance/Avoidance (Dollard and Miller:
psychoanalytic learning/ stimulus response theory, 2018). In an approach/approach conflict, the
two options for resolving a particular situation are attractive but mutually exclusive. Whereas,
the approach/avoidance conflict is where a person wants an outcome, but is unable to have them.
Lastly, in an avoidance/avoidance conflict, all the outcomes that are available are not liked by
both the parties, but one of them must be chosen. This conflict will come under the category of
approach/ avoidance as here the company has avoided the ethical principles and there has been
harassment of women. Therefore, as a result there was a conflict between the two of them.
Put your own outlook as to how the issue can be resolved
By considering the above theory and taking the case into account, I believe that although
organisational disputes cannot be eliminated completely, they can still be reduced (Jacobs,
Johnson and Hassell, 2018). With regard to the case described above, the employees of the
company are correct and they must get justice. This is majorly because of the reason that this
harassment of women is not good and ethical. Also, in addition to this the company must also
take proper step in providing justice to the woman who has suffered harassment. The major
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reason underlying this is that this will help the company in reviving its position and moreover
this is correct on the ethical grounds for providing justice to the woman.
Journal 2
Describe the case of the conflict/dispute
The present case is related with the company Google and the media selected for gathering
this information is article by CNBC. As per the article that case is of putting two employees of
Google that is Rebecca Rivers and Laurence Berland on sudden and indefinite administrative
leave. This was acknowledging to the employees of Google with help of an internal memo which
stated that this action taken place because of act of retaliation against the workers (Google
employees protested the interrogation of two colleagues by the company’s investigation team,
memo says, 2019).
Take theories from Chapter 1 to examine the conflict/dispute
The Rummel's structural model was developed by Rummel in the year 1976 and he
differentiated between the conflict structure, situations as well as manifest conflict. There are
five phases in the model. These are the latent conflict phase, the initiation phase, the balancing of
powers, and the disruption phase (Shelley André, 2018). In phase one, there are no conflicts
whereas in stage two the conflict is initiated due to some stimulating event. There can be a clash
of powers between the two parties. This is exactly what happened in the case that is described
above. The company put the two employees in leave and this affected the whole working of the
company and even hampered the goodwill of the company. Thus, this resulted in decrease in the
morale of the employees and the productivity of company as well. This is an important model
that can be used to examine a situation of conflict or dispute.
Put your own outlook as to how the issue can be resolved
By analysing the case as well as the theory above, it can be said that in order to eliminate
the conflict, it was the responsibility of the management of the company Google as they have put
the employee on administrative leave without consulting the other employees. Thus, this will
have a huge impact over the working of the company and the working efficiency of the company
and the employees as well (Urick and et. al., 2017).
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REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Clark, K. R., 2017. Managing multiple generations in the workplace. Radiologic technology.
88(4). pp.379-396.
Jacobs, S., Johnson, S. and Hassell, K., 2018. Managing workplace stress in community
pharmacy organisations: lessons from a review of the wider stress management and
prevention literature. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice. 26(1). pp.28-38.
Shelley André, R. N., 2018. Embracing generational diversity: Reducing and managing
workplace conflict. ORNAC Journal. 36(4). p.13.
Urick, M. J. and et. al., 2017. Understanding and managing intergenerational conflict: An
examination of influences and strategies. Work, Aging and Retirement. 3(2). pp.166-
185.
Online
Dollard and Miller: psychoanalytic learning/ stimulus response theory. 2018. [Online].
Available through: < https://psynso.com/dollard-miller-psychoanalytic-learning-
stimulus-response-theory/ >
Google staff walks out over women’s treatment. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46054202
Google employees protested the interrogation of two colleagues by the company’s investigation
team, memo says. 2019. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/19/google-employees-protested-security-team-
interrogation-memo-says.html >
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