COM 450 - (Winter 2008) - Conflict Management Syllabus

 

 

Brent Bean

Tel:     496-2919

Home: 356-9321   

Email: Beanb@BYUI.EDU

Office Hours:                         by appointment

Course Description

This course is designed to facilitate practical, theoretical, and critical analyses of conflict and negotiation. This will involve exploring a variety of approaches to conflict, negotiation, and third party intervention in the relevant contexts within which conflict management occurs. This course covers three major areas of study: conflict theories, styles, and frameworks; managing conflict through negotiation; and third party intervention in conflict management.

DISABILITY STATEMENT

In compliance with applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to "reasonable accommodation." It is the student's responsibility to disclose to the teacher any special need she/he may have before the end of the first week of class.

Note; Plagiarism (The using of an others words or ideas without giving credit) of any kind will not be tolerated. Any form of plagiarism or cheating (any attempt to deceive) will result in a failing grade.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1.     Understand the role of communication in conflict and conflict management processes.

2.     Examine theories and research on negotiation and conflict management.

3.     Analyze the components of conflict that lead to constructive or destructive patterns.

4.     Appreciate and put into practice the tactics of principled negotiation.

5.     Appreciate the many variables to consider in the selection of strategies, methods, and

            responses that are appropriate to a given conflict situation.

6.     Engage in a process of inquiry that leads to recommendations for designing effective

            conflict management processes.

Required Readings

Fisher, R., Ury, W., & Patton, B. (1991). Getting to Yes. New York: Penguin Books.

(F&U on course calendar)

Wilmot, W., & Hocker, J. (2001). Interpersonal Conflict, 7th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.

(WH on course calendar)

The Arbinger Institute (2002). Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box. Berrett-Koehler.

This is an intensive reading course. You are expected to keep up with all the reading. The

discussions are useless if you have not read.

 

Graded Components

Exams             = 40% (3 Exams; 1=20%; Exam 2=10%; Exam 3=10%) No Late Exams.

Quizzes           = 15%  Quizzes will be given in class for each chapter in each text as it appears in the schedule.  If you miss class you may take the quiz early, not late.

Assignments    = 45% Papers and assignments will be assigned during class time. All Papers will be typed, double spaced, no more than 2 pages, unless otherwise directed.  No Late papers will be accepted.

TOTAL:                     = 100%

 

Grading Scale                        Winter 2008   Summer 08    

A         90%-100%                

B         80%-89%

C         70%-79%

D         60%-69%                  

F          Below 60%                

           

 

Course Calendar (Subject to revision as necessary to meet our needs) (Revisions should be expected).

                                                                                                                 

Part I: The Role of Communication in Conflict

Date                       Topic                                                                                     Reading                                                Assignment

Week 1                  Introduction to Course & Conflict

                                Self-Deception                                                                     The Arbinger Institute                      Arbinger Review

 

Week 2                  Homo Narrans/ Ethnography                                           WH - Ch. 1                                           Conflict is Like_________?

Theoretical Perspectives on Conflict

 

Week 3                  Cognitive & Interactional Theories                                  WH - Ch. 2                                           Positive Metaphor.

                                Conflict & Conflict Escalation                                                                        

 

Week 4                  Interests & Goals in Conflict                                             WH - Ch. 3

                                Identifying Interests & Face Concerns                                                                                            What’s your Type.

 

Week 5                  The Role of Power in Conflict                                           WH - Ch. 4

                                Conflict Styles                                                                      WH - Ch. 5                                           Power Paper.                                      

               

Week 6                  Independent Study                                             WH - Ch. 5 (cont.)                               What’s your Style?

                                Exam #1, Leadership, WH Ch. 1 – 5, notes from class*(During Class Time//Testing Center)*                  

                                                                                                               

Part II: Tactics for Principled Negotiation

Date                       Topic                                                                                     Reading                                                Assignment

Week 7                  Test Review Assessing Conflict                                        WH - Ch. 6

                                Negotiation                                                                           WH - Ch. 7

                                                                                               

Week 8                  Principled Negotiation                                                        WH - Ch. 8, Yes- Intro/Ch.1                            

                                Separate People from the Problem                                  Yes- Ch. 2                                                           

 

Week 9  Focus on Interest not people                                                             Yes - Ch. 3-4                        

                                Options & Objective Criteria                                            

                                What if They're more Powerful                                         Yes - Ch. 5, 6

 

Week 10                Independent Study                            

                                Exam #2, WH - Ch 6, 7, 8; F,U&P - Ch. 1-6, notes from class  *(Testing Center)*                          

                                 

Week 11                Test Review What if They Won't Play (Fair)?               Yes - Ch. 7, 8 and Conclusion                                         

                                Third Party Intervention /Negotiation Context             WH - Ch. 9                          

                               

Week 12                Facilitation & Mediation                                                    WH - Ch. 11

 

                               

Part III: Third Party Intervention & Dispute Systems Designs

Date                       Topic                                                                                     Reading                                                Assignment

Week 13                Transcending Transgression                                              WH - Ch. 10

                                Exam #3, WH - Ch 9, 10, 11; F&U - Ch. 7-8, and conclusion, notes from class.