Week 3 Exercise

Read the fact pattern below, and respond to the following prompts: 1. Issues Inventory: List as many salient issues as you can derive from the case study that appear to impact the origin, perpetuation, and resolution of the workplace conflict. What specific aspects of conflict in this case study appear to be inherent in the workplace that gave rise to the conflict? 2. Intervention: What personal insights do you derive from the case study regarding how you might have managed and/or provided leadership to settle this conflict after learning of the conflict between Laura and Tim? In a large publishing company in New York, a young woman, Laura, was hired as a copy editor for one of the many journals produced by the company. Seven other employees worked on this team editing this Journal, including a senior editor named Tim. Laura had worked there for about a month when she and her fellow co-workers went for happy hour after work. Everybody had a great time and consumed a fair amount of alcohol. When everybody was leaving the bar to head home, Tim, who had been secretly attracted to Laura since she started work at the journal, hailed a cab and offered to share the ride with Laura. Laura accepted the offer. Once she was inside the cab, Tim then suddenly made an aggressive sexual advance toward her. Horrified, Laura pushed him away and told him to get out of the cab. Mortified, Tim slinked out of the cab. The next day, Laura came to work with some apprehension. How would she deal with Tim? Would the cab incident affect her job? Although Tim did not supervise her, would he try to get her fired? Tim immediately went to her office and apologized for his extremely inappropriate behavior in the cab. Relieved at his apology, Laura decided not to pursue the matter through any formal channels in the office. She figured that since Tim apologized, there was no need to dwell on the incident. After all, Laura was a new employee, still in the process of learning the office politics and proving herself as being a competent editor. She did not want to rock the boat or bring negative attention to herself. Everything would have been okay if Tim had stopped at just one sincerely expressed apology. However, whenever he found himself alone with Laura, Tim apologized again. And again. He said he was sorry about the incident at every opportunity he had for three months. This constant apology was awkward and annoying to Laura. Ironically, by Tim apologizing continuously for his unwanted attention in the cab, he was foisting another form of unwanted attention upon Laura. When he first started apologizing, Laura told him that "it was okay". After three months of many apologies, she reached a point where she asked him to stop apologizing, to no avail. Frustrated, she confided in a few co-workers about her unusual dilemma. Consequently, these co-workers lost respect for Tim. Although the cab incident was not common knowledge in the office, Tim sensed that others knew about it by the way they interacted with him. The incident became the office "elephant" that the employees "in the know" saw, but didn't explicitly acknowledge. Meanwhile, Laura was tired of hearing Tim apologize and her feelings of discomfort increased. So when another editor position opened up in another journal division of the company, she applied for the job and was transferred to the other journal. In her new position, she didn't have Tim bothering her anymore. But she was unhappy with her new job. The journal material was very boring. She didn't work as well with her co-workers as she did in the previous journal (excepting Tim). She realized that she really enjoyed her old job. She began to regret her decision to avoid the conflict with Tim by moving to the new job. In an effort to seek advice as to how to solve her problem, Laura decided to consult with the company ombudsman. Submit your exercise using the assignment link. Resources: Textbook The Dynamics of Conflict - Chapters 5 and 6 Articles How to Manage ConflictLinks to an external site. outlines the foundations, exacerbating factors, and defusing factors of (and involved in) organizational conflict. The Critical Role of Conflict Resolution in TeamsLinks to an external site. outlines the foundations, exacerbating factors, and defusing factors of (and involved in) organizational conflict. Interpersonal Conflict: A Substantial Factor to Organizational FailureLinks to an external site. outlines the foundations, exacerbating factors, and defusing factors of (and involved in) organizational conflict. The Sexual Harassment PowerPoint outlines and reviews the defining factors, rules and laws governing sexual harassment, as well as how sexual harassment gives rise to organizational conflict. Rubric Journal Rubric (PSY/ORG) Journal Rubric (PSY/ORG) Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent & Analysis 45 pts EXEMPLARY Offers a lucid and logical argument or observation (dependent upon assignment). Points are supported by unit materials, learnings and resources. The content of the work is well developed and the ideas are explained and accurate. ALL elements of the instructions are addressed. 41 pts GOOD Argument or observations are present, but are not fully developed. Ideas are explained and accurate. ALL elements of the instructions are addressed. 37 pts SATISFACTORY Argument or observations are attempted, but lack clarity and/or ideas are not developed and explained. ALL elements of the instructions are addressed. 33 pts MARGINAL Summary and description are present, but analysis and logical argument or observations are not. Not all elements of the instructions were addressed. 28 pts UNSATISFACTORY No logical argument or observations present. Not all elements of the instructions were addressed. 45 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeUse of Evidence 35 pts Used and clearly identified sources from the unit materials or independent research that effectively supported and enhanced ideas. Sources are clearly cited in-text and in a properly APA-formatted resource page. 32 pts Used and clearly identified sources and some/ most sources used clearly enhanced and supported ideas. Sources are cited in-text and in a properly APA-formatted resource page. 29 pts Ideas and conclusions are in line with the week’s learning materials and resources, and resources are incorrectly cited (e.g. no in-text citation and improperly formatted resource page) 26 pts Ideas and conclusions are partially supported by the week’s learning materials and resources, and resources are incorrectly cited (e.g. no in-text citation and improperly formatted resource page) 22 pts Ideas and conclusions are not in line with the week’s learning materials and resources. No sources were used or the ones used do not support/enhance ideas. 35 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOrganization & Structure 5 pts Organization is sequential and appropriate. Paragraphs are well developed and divided. Ideas are linked and smooth transitions are present. 4.5 pts Organization is competent. Paragraphs are appropriately used, but some transitions are not smooth. 4 pts Organization is attempted but is not sequential and/or appropriate. Paragraphs are used, but some are not appropriate and/or transitions are not smooth. 3.5 pts Organization, if evident at all, is weak and disjointed. Paragraphs, if used, are weak and transitions are lacking. 3 pts No organization and structure present. 5 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMechanics & Style 10 pts Virtually free of punctuation, spelling, and capitalization errors. 9 pts Occasional (1-2) independent punctuation, spelling, and capitalization errors. 8 pts Several (3-5) independent punctuation, spelling, and capitalization errors. 7 pts Numerous (6-8) independent punctuation, spelling, and capitalization errors. 6 pts An overabundance (9+) of independent punctuation, spelling, and capitalization errors. 10 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeGrammar 5 pts Sentences are structured effectively and vary in length and style. 4.5 pts Most sentences are structure effectively and vary in length and style. Occasional (1-2 sentences) contain independent structural deficiencies. For example, simple sentences, run-ons, and poor sentence flow. 4 pts Sentences contain several (3-5 sentences) independent structural deficiencies. For example, simple sentences, run-ons, and poor sentence flow. 3.5 pts Sentences contain numerous (6-8) independent structural deficiencies. For example, simple sentences, run-ons, and poor sentence flow. 3 pts Sentence structure throughout paper made it difficult and/or impossible to read. There were an overabundance (9 or more sentences) of independent structural deficiencies. For example, simple sentences, run-ons, and poor sentence flow. 5 pts Total Points: 100