HROB 2100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Gender Role, Interpersonal Relationship, Risk Aversion

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour
• Course: HROB 2100
• Professor: Tom Medcof

Document Summary

Americans expect conflict to be dealt with directly and openly. The notion that there should be an optimal level of conflict in the workplace to maximize productivity is from a north american viewpoint. Many asian cultures believe that conflict almost always has a negative effect on the work unit. Collectivist cultures value harmony among members more than individualistic cultures do. East asian managers prefer to compromise, so each party preserves pride and dignity. This is viewed as suboptimal from a north american perspective. North americans prefer a problem-solving approach to conflicts, because this presents both parties with a win-win solution. In a situation where a stalemate is reached, they may turn to alternative dispute resolution(adr), where a third party helps both sides find a solution outside a courtroom. There are 4 basic third-party roles: mediator, arbitrator, conciliator, and consultant. A neutral third party who facilitates a negotiated solution by using reasoning, persuasion, and suggestions for alternatives.