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2014/2015  BA-BIVKO2637U  Conflict Management in the Workplace

English Title
Conflict Management in the Workplace

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Course period Autumn, Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Max. participants 35
Study board
Study Board for BA in International Business Communication
Course coordinator
  • Lisbet Pals Svendsen - MSC
Hovedunderviser: Bettina Buchholtz
Main academic disciplines
  • Language and Intercultural Studies
Last updated on 13-08-2014
Learning objectives
Students should be able to:
  • understand and present a given conflict and the elements and steps that led to it.
  • demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between personal values and cultural differences in the conflict
  • apply conflict resolution theory to conflict analysis and solving.
  • devise a solution that includes both the personal aspects of the parties involved in the conflict and possible structural causes arising from the organization of work, management, etc.
Course prerequisites
Students must be independent users of English. They must be able to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity and must be able to understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.
Examination
Individual oral examination 20 minutes:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Individual or group exam Group exam, max. 3 students in the group
Synopsen afleveres gruppevis, men det mundtlige forsvar sker individuelt.
Size of written product Max. 3 pages
Assignment type Synopsis
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam period Winter Term and Summer Term
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Same case will be used for both regular and make-up exams, but questions for make-up exams will be new. It is therefore required of students that they write a new synopsis before they can be admitted to the make-up exam.
Students grades will reflect an overall assesment of the synopsis and oral performance.
Description of the exam procedure
Synopsen skal bestå af et kortfattet løsningsforslag svarende til casens spørgsmål. Studerende må frit benytte kompendiet, der anvendes i undervisningen, såvel som andre kilder, de mener kan belyse og understøtte deres løsningsforslag. Der skal indgå litteraturhenvisning.
Den mundtlige eksamen er individuel, og forløber således, at de studerende forbereder 7-8 minutters presentation, hvilket efterfølges af ca 7 minutters samtale. Herefter votering og begrundelse for karakter. Karaktergivning sker udfra en overordnet vurdering af synopsis og mundtlig præstation.
Course content and structure

Each session will start with a presentation and discussion of the theoretical material prepared for the week in question; presentations may be done either by lecturer or student groups.
During the course students will also work with short cases, role-plays and more comprehensive workshop-cases with subsequent presentations.
Teaching methods
Presentations, questions and class discussion
Further Information
Changes in course schedule may occur.
Wednesday 12.35-15.10, week 37-41, 43-44,46.
Expected literature

Trompenaars, Fons and Hampden-Turner, Charles: managing people across cultures (2004)

Lewis, Richard D: When Cultures Collide – Managing Successfully Across Cultures (1997)

Champoux, Joseph E: Organizational Behaviour – Integrating Individuals, Groups and Processes (1997)

Hargie, Owen, Dickson, David and Tourish, Dennis: Communication skills for effective management (2004)

Monberg, Tina: Handbook of Human Conflict Technology – How to create win-win business success without destructive conflicts (2007)

Taylor, Mullen: Informal Conflict Resolution: a Workplace Case Study (2004)

Jeffrey, mq: high context vs. low context communication (article)

Tough Times Tough Talk – a guide to working life conflicts (Center for Effective Dispute Resolution, 2010)

Additional articles etc. will be stated in the course plan
Last updated on 13-08-2014