Discuss the use of conflict management and coaching techniques by managers as valuable skills in driving business success.

                           ASSIGNMENT BRIEF                          

MODULE DESCRIPTION                                                                                         

The module examines the personal and professional skills needed to successfully manage individuals in a business context. The role of people is critical to maximising performance, and therefore an understanding of how to effectively communicate and influence workplace behaviour is a fundamental skill. Managers also need to understand how inter-personal conflict arises, and an ability to coach and develop people in order to achieve a productive workforce.

ASSESSMENT TASKS                                                                                             

• There are TWO assignments for this module:
• Assignment 1 - (Reflective Summary) 2000 words +/- 10%
• Total Weighting: 50% Intended Learning Outcomes: 1 and 2
• Assignment 2 – (Essay) 2000 words +/- 10%
• Total Weighting: 50% Intended Learning Outcomes: 3 and 4

ASSIGNMENT 1 – (Reflective Summary) 2000 words                                               

Reflective Summary - Group work during the taught session (individual assignment)

This assignment requires that students concentrate on different activities and task during taught sessions for a period of first five-six weeks . Students will demonstrate a clear understanding of effective communication skills and how they can affect workplace behaviour. It is expected that student will record daily experience during the class interactions / activities in line with the key assessment areas in the reflective log.

In addition, it is essential that students show clear evidence of how knowledge and understanding of effective negotiation and influencing skills are applied in order to achieve a pre-determined objective. The lecturer will observe each student’s behaviour and group dynamic and provide formative feedback where and when necessary.

A detailed reflective summary must be provided with sound and clear evidence that:

1. Demonstrates an understanding of effective communication skills and how they can affect workplace behaviour.
2. Shows how knowledge and understanding of effective negotiation and influencing skills have been applied in order to achieve a pre-determined objective.

Reflective Summary : 2000 words +/-10%) [Total: 100 Marks]

Suggestion: A developmental learning, collection and collation of evidence from the first week will help you to create a road map and good portfolio of reflective learning logs that could be summarised for your essay.

Information from the learning logs will be used to develop a 2000-word reflective summary that analyses effective communication in the workplace and how negotiation and personal influence had been applied to achieve a predetermined objective. The reflective summary will include both work based experience and involvement in class activities.

ASSIGNMENT 01– INDICATIVE MARKING CRITERIA                                            

ASSIGNMENT 2 – Essay (2000 Words)                                                                    

It has been established in management literature and practice that conflict is inevitable in workplace settings which could stir up negative emotions when not well manged. Even though conflict may be perceived as a negative thing, not all conflicts are negative. In fact, conflicts can arise between co-workers, supervisors and subordinates or often between employees and external stakeholders, such as customers, suppliers and regulatory agencies. Managing conflict is a key management competency and should be studied and practiced so as to develop effective conflict management skills to maintain a positive workplace relationship with colleagues and create a healthy work environment. In view of the assumption that conflict is inevitable in the work environment and its escalation could lead to a damaging effect. Hence, developing an effective approach to conflict management is very important.

Coaching can bring together long-term development goals, innate individual strengths, and short-term work priorities in ways that provide the employee clear next steps and observable measures of success. The relevance and appropriateness of the coaching technique is just as important as the development of the person being coached. Organisations have an enormous opportunity to elevate employee performance by including coaching programs and processes as a key component of their overall performance management approach.

TASK

Using any of the suggested essay topics, you are required to show an understanding of how conflict could emerge at the workplace and how such conflicts can be resolved with appropriate conflict management approaches. You are also required to show an understanding of the use of appropriate coaching techniques to improve the performance of an individual.

Suggested Essay topics

1. Discuss the use of conflict management and coaching techniques by managers as valuable skills in driving business success.
2. Why managers with knowledge of conflict management and appropriate use of coaching techniques are winners and not whiners in today’s business environment.
3. The knowledge and understanding of conflict management and the use of appropriate coaching techniques in managing an organisation’s workforce.
4. Role of conflict management and coaching techniques in resolving conflict situations and improving the performance of individuals.
5. An understanding of how to mitigate poor productivity with better conflict management and the knowledge of coaching techniques to improve the performance of the workforce.
6. Discuss how the implementation of conflict management and coaching techniques can accelerate the personal and professional growth and overall workplace moral.

Your cognitive and intellectual skills will be put to test by your ability to link theories to practice with substantial evidence of appropriate analysis. Your essay should show an understanding of concepts and theories relevant to the subject.

Evidence provided must show:

1. How the knowledge and understanding of conflict management is used to resolve a situation of conflict at work

A clear understanding of coaching, its benefits and how the use of appropriate coaching techniques ( Listening, Questioning, Clarifying and Feedback) and models can be used to improve the performance of an individual at work.

Essay : 2000 words +/-10%) [Total: 100 Marks]

Students must complete ALL tasks in order to be successful in this module