Essay Guidelines
Background: Four interesting research findings form the rationale for this course being essential for Public Managers who want to be successful and effective in resolving disputes in their workplace environment.First, research in Emotional Intelligence supports the view that understanding ourselves (self-awareness and self-management), understanding others (social awareness) and managing relationships (interpersonal and conflict resolution skills) are all keys to professional success. Second, research on how managers allocate their time confirms that most managers spend 20%-40% of their time dealing with conflict related issues. Third, additional research confirms that interpersonal conflict in the workplace (often between a supervisor and supervisee) was the number one factor in employees voluntarily leaving their job. Fourth, new research supports the view that Collaborative Public Management and Network Governance are essential strategies for managers in today’s world of interdependency, alliances, and linkages. Each of these findings addresses the necessity and value of this academic experience for public managers whose behavior greatly affects themselves and others.This course will aim to enhance Public Managers’ effectiveness by expanding self and social awareness and concentrating on the development of knowledge and skills in dispute resolution for themselves and people in their organizations. The course will stress theory and application in areas of emotional intelligence, communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, workplace mediation, facilitation, multi-party public dispute analysis, and dispute system design.
Ground Rule: An Integrated Essay of approximately 25-35 double spaced/12 font pages to capture significant insights from class sessions and readings (required books and articles), and to demonstrate how you might apply, or are applying the material in your professional life as a public manager and in your personal life. A personal assessment and action plan including why this development is important for public managers (include in your Integrated Essay approximately 2-3 pgs.)
Required Books (4) and Articles (12):
Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills, third edition by Neil Katz, et. al. Kendall/Hunt, 2020
Conflict Resolution by Daniel Dana. McGraw Hill, 2001.
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves. Talent Smart, 2009.
Strategic Negotiations by Jane Docherty. Skyhorse Publ., 2005
Please see attached for required 12 articles for the resource material
Guidelines:
A) Personal Documentation/ Learning Goals. What new understandings, skills, attitudes, behaviors would you like to work on during the class as to what ends? Why? Your Accountability Buddy? (Please see attached)
B) Significant insights from class. What new concepts, skills, models, approaches, or ideas stand out for you as particularly interesting and provocative? Why are they so significant to you?
C) Significant insights from the readings. What new ideas or tools strike you as particularly interesting and stimulating? Why are these ideas or tools so significant to you? In this section, be sure to note the author and page number in parenthesis.
D) Application. How do the insights gained from class presentations, discussion, exercises and from the assigned readings change what you think and do? How might you use the knowledge/skills to become a more effective public manager? How might you specifically apply it (examples) in your work and life?
