Team Strategy and Conflict Managment Plans - Assignment Example

 Team Strategy Plan 1. Complete the following table to address the creation of teams at Riordan Manufacturing. Strategy Strengths Weaknesses Clear expectations -Role delineation -Unity of direction -Employees cooperation -May result to conflicts - Affects team intimacy Channels of Communication -Creates an ample working environment -Enhances motivation -Easy problem solving -communication barriers -cultural barriers Conflict resolution -Creates mechanism for redressing grievances -minimizes conflicts - Affects team intimacy and trust Consequences -Team members feel responsible and accountable for team achievement -Encourages individual creativity - Affects team intimacy and trust Celebrating achievements as a team -Promotes the team spirit -Enhances commitment - May promote laxity 2. Identify the team formation strategy that is most suitable for Riordan Manufacturing, and provide the rationale for the decision. Teamwork is the ability to work together to develop a common vision. Referring to the 5C’s of effective team building mentioned in the table above, it is apparent that they are all relevant within the framework of team formation in Riordan Manufacturing. However, the best strategy is that focusing on channels of communication. Apparently, the group comprises of newly hired team superintendents and most of the employees in the team are from other division. This necessitates the need for creation of effective communication channels. Thus, it is important to create and maintain open channels of communications within the team members. Such channels promote the creation of an ample working atmosphere. Through such channels, they are encouraged to discuss genuine issues that may help in achieving the team’s objectives. Thus, creation of effective channels of communication is the most relevant team formation strategy for Riordan Manufacturing (McIntyre, 1998). 3. What potential barriers may arise during team formation? How will you address these barriers? Language barrier is major problem faced during team formation. Being an international company, it is expected that Riordan Manufacturing consist of employees who can speak different languages. This may pose a challenge during the formation of the group. However, this may be curbed by encouraging the use of a common official language during the operations of the team. Lack of team intimacy is another barrier faced during team formation. This refers to the level of caring that team members feel for one another. Team intimacy may, however, be bolstered though developing effective communication and feedback channels which will encourage team members to freely express their ideas among themselves, thus, building team’s trust and enhancing overall performance. Cultural differences are another major barrier towards effective team building. As matter of a fact, employees in Riordan Manufacturing come from diverse cultural backgrounds. Incorporating such persons in a common team may be rather challenging (McIntyre, 1998). However, this problem may be solved by encouraging the learning and adaptation to the various cultural traits, as well as by building a common business culture to be followed by everyone in the organization and the team. 4. What measures will be put in place to evaluate if the team is operating successfully? Evaluating the successfulness of the team entails conducting regular progress reviews to attest whether the team is meeting its expectations. This could be done through holding regular meetings with the team members to discuss the results and the future plans. During the team progress process it is important to check and make sue that the team is effectively accomplishing its mission. This involves reviewing the teams’ goals and making the necessary adjustments. It also involves reviewing the team plan and determining any changes or improvements that need to be undertaken to make the team more effective (McIntyre, 1998). This can be done by discussing those areas which are doing well and those that require improvement. It is, therefore, important to clarify the responsibilities for each of the team member and define the actions that each of them needs to take next. Part B Conflict Management Plan 1. Identify the available conflict management strategies and their strengths and weaknesses. Strategy Strengths Weaknesses Integrative Works well for parties interested in maintaining long term relationship. It invents new option for mutual benefit. It emphasizes the use of objective criteria. It leads or provokes cooperative communication. It stresses on long term relationship. It cannot be used in situations where communication between two parties is limited. It is applicable in situations where involved parties are initiating contact for the first time. It ignores some important facts of warring parties. Avoiding Parties are able to regain their composure and reasonably think through the issue of conflict. In trivial situations, the individual has low power and little information regarding the issue of conflict, thus he or she s able to avoid the issue. It gives room for the conflict to escalate. The relationship between the two parties is endangered. It is interpreted as lack of unexpressed discord which increases anger. Postponing may worsen the situation. Decisions may be made by fault. compromising Temporary solution is sought. There is plenty of time to discuss the issue of conflict. Both sides have equal power. Back up mode when competition fails. Some people may be selfish in that they will want to gain at the expense of others. Temporary solution may escalate the conflicts. The process takes long time and energy. Some people may take advantage of the others trust and openness. Collaborating The relationship of both parties is valued. There is commitment of the conflicting parties to resolve the issue. Individuals learn and understand views of others thus easily striking a deal to end the conflict. People sometimes apply it exclusively and deny other conflicting individuals not using it. It is not effective method of conflict management since it takes time to resolve the issue. In addition, if communication is lacking it cannot resolve the issue. Obliging Differences between the two parties are minimized. Views of both parties are considered to ensure that they are fully satisfied. It is not easy for one to give up and lose to the other party. It is difficult to integrate the views of all conflicting parties. 2. Which of the available conflict management strategies are most appropriate for the current situation with David and James? Provide your rationale, including what factors you considered in making your selection. Your response should be at least 100 words. The integrative approach is the most appropriate conflict management strategy to be applied. This strategy will attempt to identify joint benefits within the context of the situation with James and David. Instead of concentrating much on fixed amount of resources, the strategy will seek to increase allocation of resources (Fisher, 1983). Therefore, this strategy will encourage cooperation among negotiators, thus, promoting good and effective communication aimed at developing common interests and understanding of different issues affecting the warring parties. Several factors to consider include the complexity of the situation, commitment of each party towards solving the conflict, available resources that David and James possess in order to solve the problems and time available to solve the issue of conflict. 3. If the selected strategy is not successful, what is your alternate strategy? Provide your rationale for this selection. Your response should be at least 100 words. Compromising strategy will work well in this case because the objectives and goals of James and David are mutually exclusive. In addition, in such a case, it is vital to assess how powerful the two parties are. Further, a temporary solution to this issue between employees will be reaching a consensus and allowing work to continue as usual. 4. What potential road blocks might be encountered in resolving the conflict? How would you address these? Your response should be at least 100 words. There are several road blocks that might hinder conflict resolution process. For instance, complexity of the situation, which two parties are involved in, may be in that nobody is willing to compromise. This, in turn, leaves the issue unresolved. More so, when a certain person is more powerful than the other will make it difficult to reach a solution because the less powerful individual might not be willing to give in due to manipulation from the powerful party (Fisher, 1983). Further, the resolving team may sometimes lack enough skills to solve the issue. In addressing these challenges, it is important to make the two parties compromise and agree on specific terms to avoid the scenario where one party loses and another wins. In addition, there should be no discrimination, even if one party is more powerful than the other, in that their needs should be considered and not ignored. Only a skilled team should be chosen to solve the conflicts, not just anybody. References Fisher, R. J. (1983). Third party consultation as a method of intergroup conflict Resolution: A review of studies. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 27, 301-334. McIntyre, M. G. (1998). The management team handbook: Five key strategies for maximizing group performance. Boston: Joss-Bass. Read More