Conflict Management

Question 1

Conflict is a discomforting difference.
4 ugly truth about conflicts:
- conflicts will occur
- conflicts always involves risks and costs
- damage results from dysfunctional strategies
- some damage are irreversible

Answer 1

conflicts have benefits too : surface differences and problems and help deepen relationships

Question 2

Wong statement: winning requires having more power than the other party.
True: we need only enough power to make it worth the other party’s time to try to work it out with us.

Answer 2

wrong: if we could only communicate, we could resolve all the conflicts.
True: communication is often essential to resolve a conflict, but it is rarely a solution in itself.

Question 3

assignment:
- think of an early compelling lesson you draw from conflicts in your life, and write in details what it is.
- think of examples of conflicts in your own life that can be used as tests during the course

Answer 3

The adversary system in US assumes that conflict is a competitive event.

Question 4

Tips of winning arguments:

1. Understand forensic reasoning:
   - know the general principles/rules
   - know the facts to see how facts fit the rules
2. Recognize the issues (the things to be decided i.e. a policy) and the starting point of the argument (what is the current status of the innocents?)
3. consider the credibility of the evidence by screening the bias (sources of evidence, does the source know what they are talking about, their expertise, credentials, how objective they are)
4. check your logic (try to avoid hasty generalization)
5. consider what the arguments of your opponents might be, what my opponents might respond to my arguments

Answer 4

Richard Whately: study about arguments

Question 5

There is a big cost of using adversary system to resolves conflicts.

Answer 5

hui