It’s a good idea to use the conflict process model highlighted in Exhibit 11.2 as a kind of conceptual map, at least for the first half of the chapter, because you’ll need to know and remember a lot of what it contains. There is a lot of material in this chapter which may seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be that way. For example, if you look at the sources of conflict and the structural approach to conflict management, one could be thought of as the flip side of the other. If you can remember the six structural sources of conflict, chances are you can remember all, if not most, of the structural approaches to conflict management too. That’s a valuable time-saving tip.

Remember that not all conflict is bad. Some is actually beneficial for co-workers and the organization too. This “good” conflict goes by several names (aliases?): constructive conflict, task-related conflict, cognitive conflict, etc. The kind of conflict most people think of as “bad” and would prefer to avoid is called relationship conflict. It too goes by many names such as socioemotional, affective, destructive, etc.

There are five interpersonal conflict management styles. That’s a lot to remember. As I’ve done in previous chapters of Connect, I recommend you draw a sketch. Start with a horizontal (x) and vertical (y) axis, insert the correct labels with a high and low at each end, and don’t forget the five dots. This will make it a lot easier for you to remember them. I’ll bet you can think of different occasions when you used many of these styles (that will help you remember them too).

The bargaining zone model is actually quite easy to conceptualize, but for some reason it’s easy to jumble up the points for the various parties, especially in a scenario-type question. Look at the model again, now scribble dollar signs at each end. The more adventurous among you can put amounts if you want. Now have fun with it, and pretend you’re negotiating your starting salary (now how much will it take for you to move out of your parent’s basement?). That would be your initial point. What do you think the employer’s initial point will be? (Here’s a hint: it’s less than what you’d be happy with.)