For this hypothetical situation, assume that you are the sales manager of an outside sales team for an office products retailer in a large metropolitan city. Each of the four sales associates in your department have been employed by the company for 7-9 years. Due to recent economic developments in your city, several new businesses have relocated to your area. As a result, the volume of business for the company has grown to the point that you have decided an additional sales associate should be hired to sustain the exceptional level of customer service that your organization is known for. Once the new sales associate is hired, you have informed the current associates that territory or sales areas for each associate will need to be modified to incorporate the new sales associate. Since the sales associates receive compensation that is comprised of a base salary, plus commission, the current associates have voiced considerable concern about the possibility of "giving up" a portion of their territory to accommodate the new employee. You realize that this could create some conflict within your sales team.

Under the Application Question tab located in the Week #2 Module, respond to the following: The textbook suggests that conflict can be advantageous for teams. Using your own words, indicate whether or not you agree with this statement and why. In addition, list and describe each of the five conflict management styles outlined in the textbook. Within the description, please identify which of the five conflict management styles would be the most effective in the hypothetical scenario outlined above and why. It is important to justify and support your response.