Introduction The aim of this assessment is to assess the students knowledge and understanding of Conflict issues and Dispute Resolution techniques in a given organisational context. The assessment also focuses on recognising the extent to which employee Voice, Negotiation steps and Power and authority could be used as a means of improving volatile situations, as in the situation below and resolving or minimising conflict within the organisation currently and in the future. The Situation You are a newly appointed HR manager for a customer service provider, 'Zaphire Service Solutions' in Bahrain. The company offers a range of services to businesses and individuals, including technical support, customer care, and back-office solutions. During your first meeting with the top management, they proudly showcased the achievements of the company, including the fact that out of the 200 employees in the company, 55% staff have been working for more than 6 years, due to their job satisfaction and loyalty to the organization. After assuming your role, it became apparent to you that the company was experiencing substantial problems that had not been disclosed by the management during your initial introduction. The data revealed that the organization had a high turnover rate among new employees who had joined over the past three years. Further research revealed that the company had fostered a divisive work culture, which created a sense of differentiation among the employees. Senior staff members who had worked with the company for over a decade formed a tightly-knit exclusive group and supported only their fellow senior members. Consequently, new staff members experienced difficulty fitting in and were often left out, leading to a lack of morale and disinterest in the workplace. Upon further investigation, some employees also revealed that the company had a history of mistreating new employees, including assigning BU7701 (Employee Relations) Assessment 1- Individual Project 2022-23 Semester 2 3 Program them to work long hours without breaks, denying them the training necessary to succeed in their roles, and generally ignoring their concerns and complaints. This had led to a culture of fear and mistrust among new employees, who felt that they had no voice or power within the company. Your investigation uncovered a serious issue that happened two years ago, where a marketing team-leader Fadhel and ten of his team-members held a protest by being absent from work. They protested against the company's practice of assigning overtime work only for new staff without an increase in pay. They also complained against some of the senior employees who were not doing their work roles. Since the senior staff had a lot of power and influence in the company, the management responded by immediately firing Fadhel and his complete team without notice, citing violations of their contract clauses, and hiring replacements. This action caused widespread resentment among the staff, and many employees who had been with the company for several years were disillusioned with the management's treatment of new staff. Some employees reported that they no longer felt valued or appreciated by the company, and that their hard work and dedication was not being recognized or rewarded. The incident had a lasting impact on the company's reputation, with many former employees sharing their negative experiences on social media and job review sites, making it difficult for the company to attract and retain top talent. Upon questioning the management about these issues, they denied the accusations, calling them lies and false rumors spread by ex-employees who had joined their competitors. As a result, it became clear that the company lacked transparency and accountability. The culture of favoritism and lack of support for new employees were contributing to the high turnover rate. In addition to the issue of unfair overtime practices, you discovered that several employees, including three employees who joined recently, Alia, Ismail, and Rashid, had reported incidents of harassment to their supervisors, but no action had been taken to address their complaints. Some senior staff members were known to make BU7701 (Employee Relations) Assessment 1- Individual Project 2022-23 Semester 2 4 Program derogatory comments and use offensive language towards employees who were not part of their in-group, and there were rumors of nepotism and favoritism in the hiring and promotion processes. You interviewed some of the new staff and asked them to share their problems. Alia and Rashid, informed you that they have been having conflicts with the management and senior staff over several issues. Alia believes that she is not given enough opportunities to grow within the company and that her ideas and opinions are not valued. She feels that her team-leader always dismisses her suggestions and never consider them. Rashid, on the other hand, has been having conflicts with his immediate supervisor. He believes that his supervisor is playing favorites and giving preferential treatment to certain employees, which is creating a hostile work environment. Both Alia and Rashid have attempted to bring up their concerns with the management, but they feel that their feedback is falling on deaf ears. Alia has even tried to speak directly to the CEO of the company, but was told that she needs to follow the proper chain of command. Rashid has reported his supervisor's behavior to HR before, but nothing has been done to address the situation. The conflicts have now reached a boiling point, with Alia threatening to quit the company if her concerns are not addressed, and Rashid considering filing a formal complaint against his supervisor. You noticed from other junior employees that they were not given any opportunities to provide feedback or share their opinions. All major decisions were made by the top management and some senior staff, without any consultation with the other employees. This had led to a lack of motivation among the employees and a general feeling of detachment. When you asked some of the junior employees if they had any suggestions for improvement, they seemed surprised that you even asked. They told you that this was how things had always been and that they had given up trying to make a difference a long time ago. You realized that you needed to address this issue to create a more engaged and motivated workforce. Additionally, you have received a complaint from Fatima, a senior staff member, about harassment and unprofessional behavior from Rashid. Rashid has denied these allegations, but the BU7701 (Employee Relations) Assessment 1- Individual Project 2022-23 Semester 2 5 Program situation has caused tension and further division between new and senior staff members. As the HR in this company, you believe it would be essential to address these issues with the management and suggest solutions that minimize conflicts and foster a more inclusive and supportive work environment. During a recent board meeting, you highlighted the challenges you were facing in improving employee relations and reducing conflicts within the organization. You explained that there was a significant resistance to change among staff, and that you were facing a lack of cooperation from the management in implementing changes that would make a positive impact on the workplace. In response, one of the senior leaders in the top management, Dr. Abdulla, became furious and accused you of trying to disrupt the existing organizational culture. He claimed that you were exaggerating the issues and causing unnecessary problems for the organization. Feeling discouraged, you decided to approach the owner of the business for advice on how to handle the situation. She advised you to take a step back and try to establish positive relationships with all staff, including Dr. Abdulla. She explained that change can be difficult for some people, and that it was important to understand and address their concerns in order to move forward. She also assured you of her full support in achieving your goals and making improvements to the organization. Despite this advice, you continue to face challenges in implementing changes that would improve employee relations and motivate staff. Dr. Abdulla remains resistant to any changes, and there is a general sense of mistrust and lack of cooperation between staff and management. This has led to a decline in morale and productivity, and is negatively impacting the organization's overall success.

Based on the above scenario, answer the question: To improve the organizations employee relations, you are seeking to win the support of the top management, including Dr. Abdulla. Prepare a plan for a negotiation process between the two of you. 900 WORD COUNT IS A MUST ( NEGOTIATION PROCESS PLAN WITH ABDULLA IS A MUST )