Reference no: EM131297253

Note: the majority of the questions require very brief answers - just a sentence or two to define a concept and/or explain the reason it might apply to your own conflict experience.

The questions ask you to apply insights from our course materials about intercultural communications and conflict resolution in an analysis of an intercultural conflict that you have experienced. Remember that culture is much more than only nationality or ethnicity.

Full points will only be earned if answers demonstrate analysis and application of specific insights from assigned course materials or other research about conflict resolution.

All answers must be in own words (no direct quotes are acceptable), and should cite any sources of information used (in other words, if you describe the use of a particular conflict resolution strategy that's presented in our reading, be sure to explain that strategy and cite the source of the information.)

Many questions will have multiple parts. Directly answer each part.

1. Cultural Differences

NOTE: It is recommended that you skim over ALL of the questions, before beginning, so that you can select a conflict to examine that will enable you to apply the concepts presented in each question to your analysis of that conflict.

Think of a specific person who is culturally different from you in some way, with whom you have experienced a conflict that you now realize may have had cultural differences at its root.

Identify and define those two cultures - yours and that of a particular individual who was a member of a "different" cultural group. Avoid thinking of culture in terms of national origin only. Consider some of the facets that contribute to definitions of cultural identity that we have explored in our class. Review our first few weeks' readings which helped to "define" the term, culture.

Be crystal clear about the defining parameters of the cultures you are discussing.

Discuss 2 or 3 key areas of difference between your cultural framework and that of your "opposing" part. Some areas to consider might be values, perspectives, interests, ethics, norms, communication styles, etc. Other areas might be most relevant in your situation, and that's fine; just be sure to clearly describe the areas of differences.

How did (or do) those cultural differences contribute to a specific conflict between you and the "opposing party?"

Number and label the 3 parts of your answer to this question:
1. My culture and the culture of my "opposing party":

2. Most important facets of EACH of our cultures that contributed to our misunderstanding/conflict:

3. Specific example of a conflict between us that was the result of those cultural differences:

2. Contributors to intercultural conflicts: cross-cultural misperception

Answer Both 1 and 2.
1. Define - in your own words - cross-cultural misperception. (Adler, 1991).
Note: copying the definition from a source will earn no points. Answer must demonstrate your understanding in your own words.

2. Explain how cross-cultural misperceptions might have played a role in the conflict you described in your answer to the first question. (Be sure to consider your OWN possible misperceptions, as well as the misperceptions the other person might have had about you.)

3. Contributors to intercultural conflicts: lack of cultural self-awareness

Answer Both 1 and 2.
1. Explain - in your own words -lack of cultural self-awareness. (Adler, 1991).
Note: copying the definition from a source will earn no points. Answer must demonstrate your understanding in your own words.

2. Explain how lack of cultural self-awareness might have played a role in the conflict you described in your answer to the first question. (In particular, be sure to consider your OWN possible lack of cultural self-awareness.).

4. Contributors to intercultural conflicts: subconscious cultural blinders

Answer Both 1 and 2.
1. Define - in your own words - subconscious cultural blinders. (Adler, 1991).
Note: copying the definition from a source will earn no points. Answer must demonstrate your understanding in your own words.

2. Explain how subconscious cultural blinders might have played a role in the conflict you described in your answer to the first question. (Be sure to consider your OWN possible subconscious cultural blinders, as well as the subconscious cultural blinders the other person might have had about you.)

5. Contributors to intercultural conflicts: projected similarity
Answer Both 1 and 2.
1. Explain - in your own words - projected similarity . (Adler, 1991).
Note: copying the definition from a source will earn no points. Answer must demonstrate your understanding in your own words.

2. Explain how projected similarity might have played a role in the conflict you described in your answer to the first question.

6. Pros and Cons of the Competing Approach to Conflict
Explain one potential positive AND one potential negative of the use of the Competing approach to resolving the personal intercultural conflict that you identified in question 1.

7. Pros and Cons of the Accommodating Approach to Conflict
Explain one potential positive AND one potential negative of the use of the Accommodating approach to resolving the personal intercultural conflict that you identified in question 1.

8. Pros and Cons of the Avoiding Approach to Conflict
Explain one potential positive AND one potential negative of the use of the Avoiding approach to resolving the personal intercultural conflict that you identified in question 1.

9. Pros and Cons of the Collaborating Approach to Conflict
Explain one potential positive AND one potential negative of the use of the Collaborating approach to resolving the personal intercultural conflict that you identified in question 1.

10. Pros and Cons of the Compromising Approach to Conflict
Explain one potential positive AND one potential negative of the use of the Compromising approach to resolving the personal intercultural conflict that you identified in question 1.

11. Worst Conflict Management Choice
Worst Conflict Management Choice
1. Which of the conflict management approaches (competing, accommodating, avoiding, collaborating, or compromising) would be the WORST to use in your attempt to resolve the personal intercultural conflict that you identified in question 1.

2. What contributors to inter-cultural conflicts (cross-cultural misperception, subconscious cultural blinders, lack of cultural self-awareness, or projected similarity) could NOT be resolved with that approach?

12. BEST Conflict Management Choice
BEST Conflict Management Choice
1. Which of the conflict management approaches (competing, accommodating, avoiding, collaborating, or compromising) would be the BEST to use in your attempt to resolve the personal intercultural conflict that you identified in question 1.

2. What contributors to inter-cultural conflicts (cross-cultural misperception, subconscious cultural blinders, lack of cultural self-awareness, or projected similarity) MIGHT be resolved with that approach?