Conflict Management Practice 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A supervisor consistently takes credit for her team's ideas, causing resentment. This is an example of which conflict source?
- Resource scarcity conflict
- Interpersonal values conflict
- Power and recognition conflict (Correct answer)
- Task interdependence conflict
Correct answer: Power and recognition conflict
When recognition and credit are distributed unfairly, it creates a power-based conflict tied to status and fairness.
Question 2: Which listening technique involves summarizing what someone said to confirm your understanding before responding?
- Selective listening
- Paraphrasing (Correct answer)
- Mirroring body language
- Interrupting to clarify
Correct answer: Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing confirms understanding, signals respect, and prevents miscommunication from derailing a resolution conversation.
Question 3: A team is deadlocked on a budget decision. Which conflict resolution strategy involves each side giving something up to move forward?
- Collaboration
- Competition
- Compromise (Correct answer)
- Avoidance
Correct answer: Compromise
Compromise requires mutual concessions and is useful when a quick, workable solution is needed and full collaboration isn't feasible.
Question 4: What does 'psychological safety' contribute to conflict resolution in teams?
- It guarantees no conflict will arise
- It allows team members to raise concerns without fear of retaliation (Correct answer)
- It gives managers authority to end disputes immediately
- It ensures all team members agree on outcomes
Correct answer: It allows team members to raise concerns without fear of retaliation
Psychological safety encourages honest dialogue, which is essential for surfacing and resolving conflicts constructively.
Question 5: Which of the following is a key characteristic of distributive bargaining in a conflict?
- Both sides work together to expand available resources
- One party's gain directly comes at the expense of the other (Correct answer)
- A third party distributes resources equally
- Focus is placed on long-term relationship preservation
Correct answer: One party's gain directly comes at the expense of the other
Distributive bargaining treats resources as fixed, making it a zero-sum approach where one side winning means the other loses.
Question 6: An employee raises a concern about a colleague's behavior. The manager dismisses it without investigation. This response is likely to:
- Resolve the conflict quickly
- Empower the employee to handle it independently
- Erode trust and escalate the underlying issue (Correct answer)
- Satisfy both parties by staying neutral
Correct answer: Erode trust and escalate the underlying issue
Dismissing legitimate concerns without investigation sends a message that conflicts won't be taken seriously, increasing resentment.
Question 7: In conflict management, BATNA stands for:
- Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement (Correct answer)
- Behavioral Approach To Neutral Arbitration
- Baseline Assessment of Team Needs and Actions
- Best Approach To Navigating Adversarial talks
Correct answer: Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement
BATNA defines your strongest fallback option if negotiations fail, giving you leverage and clarity on when to walk away.
Conflict Management Practice 3
A supervisor consistently takes credit for her team's ideas, causing resentment.
This is an example of which conflict source?