Question

Case Study: Dante and Tiffany both work for an advertising company and were assigned a new account together. Their manager, who was very intimating with a loud, assertive voice, instructed them to create a proposal for the new customer which included a design for a restaurant logo and advertising slogan to be used on several billboards throughout the area. They had one week to create the proposal before it would be presented to the restaurant owners.

Their boss raised his voice and demanded that they do a good job on the presentation and secure this account. During the first day, Dante approached Tiffany and suggested they come up with an outline to split up the work and manage their time. Tiffany immediately stated that she would take the task of the logo and would submit it at the end of the week because she wanted to make sure she received credit for her work.

Although Dante would have preferred to work together on both tasks, he agreed to let Tiffany complete the logo on her own. After all, they had very little time to complete the project and do a good job on it. Over the next two days, Tiffany ignored Dante’s requests to work together and any input or ideas he had for the project. She brought her progress directly to the boss for feedback without ever showing it to Dante.

Tiffany even started working on the slogan without Dante. When Dante approached Tiffany about her actions, she told him that she was more experienced in her position than him and this is the way she gets things done. Dante stepped back and let Tiffany complete the project on her own. At the end of the week, Tiffany presented the campaign to the restaurant owners while Dante stood to the side.

The restaurant owners were impressed with the logo and slogan and decided to accept the proposal. The boss was very pleased with Tiffany and Dante’s work and suggested they work together on future accounts. Tiffany was annoyed by her boss’s suggestion but did not say anything.

Dante felt very disappointed and frustrated having to work with Tiffany.

Answer the following: 1. Identify the main conflict(s) in the case study. Why are these conflicts?

2. What are the conflict triggers for Dante and how would you describe Dante’s feelings that contributed to the conflict?

3. Of the 5 Killmann’s Conflict Management Styles, which style was used by Tiffany in this case study? Describe.

4. Of the 5 Killmann’s Conflict Management Styles, which style was used by Dante in this case study? Describe.

5. How could this situation have resulted with a better outcome for all if a different type of conflict management style was used?

Answer 1

Question 1: Identify the main conflict(s) in the case study. Why are these conflicts?

Solution 1:

The main conflicts in the case study are as follows:

1. Tiffany was working on the project alone and was not taking any suggestions or inputs from Dante, even when he shared his opinion with her. And hence, not working as team, with Dante. In the project both, Tiffany and Dante, were supposed work together as team.

2. Tiffany was directly sharing the progress of the project directly with their boss, without showing it to Dante and ignoring his involvement. This was her being selfish, and she was competing with her own teammate just to take credit of the work she did.

3. Tiffany started working on the part of the project, which they mutually decided to be done by Dante. She did not take his permission and was doing the work he was supposed to do.

Question 2: What are the conflict triggers for Dante and how would you describe Dante’s feelings that contributed to the conflict?

Solution 2:

The conflict triggers for Dante and his feelings contributing to it were:

1. Tiffany was ignoring his ideas and suggestions to the project that they were working on as a team.
Dante wanted to give inputs and work as team. Even when Tiffany made it clear that she will be working on the logo alone, Dante kept sharing his ideas with Tiffany that she did not want.

2. Tiffany was sharing the work progress directly with their boss and without consulting or intimating Dante of the work.
Dante wanted to be a part of, and be aware of what Tiffany was doing. He feeling left out and not being part of the work that Tiffany was doing, for which both were responsible. This was contributing to the conflict.

3. Tiffany even started working on the part of the project Dante was supposed to do, without asking him and did not take any suggestions and inputs from Dante on this as well.
Dante was feeling redundant, as far as his contributions to the project were concerned. He wanted to avoid any conflict and just stopped being involved in the project aggravating the conflict.

4. Tiffany showed doubts about the knowledge and experience Dante had. She clearly stated that she is more experienced and would be able to do a better job without Dante’s contribution and discouraged him.
His feeling of lack of confidence may have let to not asserting his role in the project and adding to the conflict.

Question 3: Of the 5 Killmann’s Conflict Management Styles, which style was used by Tiffany in this case study? Describe.

Solution 3:

Tiffany used “Competing” type of the Killmann’s Conflict Management Style. She was high on assertive axis, on the Thomas-Killmann conflict model and being very low on cooperative axis of the model.

High Assertiveness - She clearly and confidently stated what she would be working on and how she would be working on the project.

Low Cooperation - She did not take any suggestions and ideas from Dante and worked alone on the project.

Question 4: Of the 5 Killmann’s Conflict Management Styles, which style was used by Dante in this case study? Describe.

Solution 4:

Dante used “Accomodating” type of the Killmann’s Conflict Management Style. He was low on assertive axis, on the Thomas-Killmann conflict model and being very high on cooperative axis of the model.

Low Assertiveness – He did not emphasis on what he wanted. And clearly not asserting his role in the project.

High Cooperation – He was constantly giving his inputs to Tiffany and wanted to work with her as team on the project.

Question 5: How could this situation have resulted with a better outcome for all if a different type of conflict management style was used?

Solution 5:

If they would have used “Collaborating” conflict management style, the outcome would have been better.

Instead of a win-lose scenario for both, it would have resulted in win-win situation for Tiffany and Dante. There would have been development of trust and confidence among both the teammates and reduced frustration and dissatisfaction at the end of the project. Both of them would have reached their goals. Tiffany would have proved herself and would have been part of the credit given and would have not worked for it alone. Dante would have been able to provide his ideas and work in collaboration with Tiffany and made himself feel satisfied.