Slumber Corporation is a multinational company operating in the oil and gas sector in Guyana. The organization is known for its diverse workforce and collaborative culture, as it consists not only of Guyanese, but a number of expatriates who were recruited to fill the gaps in skill sets that existed in Guyana. However, as with any large organization, conflicts arise, necessitating effective conflict management strategies. Below are some instances of the conflicts that Slumber's managerial staff have had to deal with.

In the information and technology department, a conflict arose between two managers, Mark and Lisa, regarding the implementation of a new project management tool. Mark was adamant about using a specific software, while Lisa argued for a different solution. Mark realised he had seniority by one month over Lisa and the issue between them had to be settled quickly. As the conflict escalated, Mark presented a compelling case for his chosen software, highlighting its benefits and dismissing Lisa's suggestions. This approach led to increased tension, with both managers feeling unheard and frustrated. This therefore led to Mark deciding to use this conflict management style to deal with the issue.

In the finance department, a conflict emerged between two teams over the allocation of resources for a high-priority project. The teams had differing opinions on resource allocation, and tensions escalated. The department head, Sarah, was at her wit's end to find a sustainable strategy to resolve the conflict. She decided that since Christmas was approaching and workers were expecting their bonus payment, to have the conflict now would be damaging to the relationship between the teams and this could affect the timely payment of the bonus. Additionally, the emotive states of the two teams were very high. Sarah, therefore, decided to adopt this conflict management style.

Upon recognizing her first intervention style did not yield the result she wanted, Sarah decided to meet with the leaders of both teams to listen to their concerns and decide on the resource allocation plan. By prioritizing team cohesion over individual preferences, Sarah aimed to create an environment where both teams felt heard and valued. Given that Christmas was fast approaching and there was limited time to solve the conflict, Sarah emphasized the importance of finding common ground to move forward. She chose to employ this conflict management style.

Meanwhile, the conflict between Mark and Lisa remained unresolved. Lisa, realizing the complexity of the issue and the fact that time was of the essence for the successful implementation of the new project management tool, decided they both needed to have a discussion where each manager identified key priorities and concerns. The conflict management style they decided on saw them implementing a hybrid solution that incorporated the elements from both of the proposed project management tools. The conflict style they decided upon was the...

Despite the two attempts by Sarah, the finance department head, the conflict over resource allocation still remained. Sarah, knowing this was a conflict between the two teams who were at the lateral levels, and there was no urgency in finding a solution, decided she would have a structured meeting where representatives from both teams openly discussed their needs and concerns. The teams identified a resource allocation plan that not only addressed their immediate concerns, but also fostered a more transparent and cooperative working relationship. This came about only because Sarah decided to use this conflict management style.

Requirement:

Conflict is an inherent part of organizational life, and how conflicts are managed can significantly impact an organization's culture and effectiveness. The five conflict management styles are based on two dimensions of concern: concern for the needs of others, and concern for one's own needs. The case at Slumber analyses how the various conflict styles can be applied to navigate challenging situations.

Identify which conflict management style is most appropriate for each of the five situations, and justify your answer using information from the case