Notes:
Organizational Behavior MGT315
Interactions in Organizations: Group Decision-making/Conflict/Communication
In Week 7, we look at various ways in which individuals interact as members of a group to make decisions, in situations of conflict at the group and individual levels, and in communication with others.
• SLO 13: Identify and apply the concepts of teamwork and group process.
• SLO 14: Compare the various sources and types of organizational conflict.
• SLO 15: Describe the nature and functions of communication in organizations.
• LO 1: Define the concept of GROUP PROCESS, and contrast the rational model of decision-making with bounded rationality and intuition.
• LO 2: Contrast the strengths and weaknesses of group decision-making.
• LO 3: List the steps of the rational model of decision-making.
• LO 4: Describe the four types and three loci of conflict.
• LO 5: Outline the conflict process.
• LO 6: Describe the functions and process of communication, including the concept of channel richness.
• LO 7: Contrast downward, lateral and upward communication.
• LO 8: Contrast written, oral and non-verbal communication.
Read and Review:
1. Assigned textbook readings
a. Chapter 6 (pp 87-91),
b. Chapter 9 (pp 149-53)
c. Chapter 11 (pp 171-78)
d. Chapter 14 (pp 226-34)
Robbins, S.P. and Judge, T.A. Essentials of Organizational Behavior. 14th ed. Pearson, 2018. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-452484-9
2. Review the Lecture material (click on “Lecture” below).
3. Listen to Podcast
a. 4 Types of Conflict and How to Manage Them (https://hbr.org/ideacast/2015/11/4-types-of-conflict-and-how-to-manage-them)
Directions:
Discuss an example of a conflict from your organizational experience. Describe the conflict in terms of its type, locus, and stages (I – IV only) that you were able to observe. Would better communication have prevented this conflict? If so, explain how. If not, explain why not.