Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this contribution was: (1) to identify in the literature, conflict management/resolution strategies for the workplace; (2) to discover, identify, and categorize successful workplace conflict management/resolution strategies used by identified trainers and consultants; and (3) to synthesize strategies into a step-by-step guide for leaders. Development of the contribution. The development of this contribution as a step-by-step guide for leaders began as a traditional dissertation. "The Problem and its Significance" recognized the problem of conflict in organizations and the need for leaders to manage conflict to survive in the global economy. The "Review of the Literature" identified the types of conflict, its impact or the workplace, the history of conflict management and conflict management styles. These chapters served as the foundation for "Prescription for a Healthy Workplace, A Step-by-Step Guide for Leaders to Manage Conflict in the Workplace." The Guide was designed to assist leaders in understanding conflict, its impact on the organization, and effective leader characteristics and systems to manage conflict at the earliest stages. The Guide defines a "healthy organization," the cost of conflict to the organization, effectiveness of the styles of conflict management and details the foundation of healthy organizations. In the research, a number of characteristics and systems were associated with high-performing leaders in reinvented, team-based learning organizations. The author selected the characteristics and systems of high performance leaders related to effective conflict management to create a self-assessment for leaders. After self-diagnosis of areas for improvement, leaders use the step-by-step instructions i.e. "Prescriptions" to establish prerequisite skills and systems for productive conflict management. Contribution to the field of conflict management. Survival of an organization is dependent upon the ability of leaders to prepare coworkers to manage conflict created by the stress of change and competition in the highly competitive global economy. This Guide provides step-by-step instruction for leaders to establish the prerequisite characteristics and systems to manage conflict.