Reference no: EM132882386

In Class Assignment Case study - Sociology in trouble Five faculty members in a college sociology Department follow-up a brainstorming session with a meeting to discuss the course offerings for the next semester. Steve, the department chair, thanks everyone for the work they have just completed. He then askes the tired faculty members to address an important issue: which courses should we eliminate, which new courses should they add to the curriculum? "We need" he says to balance the Integrity of our department and our offerings with the need to bring in more students and the need to have a strong curriculum. Although faculty members nod their heads, they don't seem to have much enthusiasm for the task. Trever declares, "we don't want to enrolment to dictate - you know - what our offerings -..... "Before he finishes his sentence, Helen interrupts, "here we go, here we go, Trevor, you need to look at the enrolment numbers!" The group senses that Trevor seems more interested in preserving his own low enrolment courses than developing new ones that attract more students. The Faculty has dealt with this issue before. Should they allow Professors to protect the smaller courses or should we cut these courses? should the offer more popular courses to improve their numbers, even if it means cutting time-honored sociology courses? Art interrupts the interaction by telling everyone that he has an exciting idea for a new course, "The Sociology of Time". He explains that cause would look at time as a commodity that people use for various sociological purposes. The group has mixed reactions. Trevor questions whether the course is rigorous enough and whether the topic is worthy of a separate course. Georgia just nods her head at everything group members say. Helen support Art's proposed new course. Steve reminds everyone that if they add a new course, they must eliminate others. Group member suggests cutting Trevor's "Culture of Consumerism" course. He strongly opposes this move. Helen raises the voice and declares that the enrolment numbers speak for themselves. Finally, Georgia suggests, "we can do without an argument happening". Hellen accuses Trevor of living in the past. At this point, the chair intervenes again and remind his colleagues that they need to look at the bigger goal, rather than picking apart an individual course. The lines of conflicts are drawn. Art wants his new course on the "Sociology of Time", approved; Trevor opposes it in on Academic grounds. He also doesn't want the department to cut his "Culture of Consumerism" course. The chair again reminds everyone that if they add new courses to attract more students, they must cut existing courses. Helen seems very aggravated - maybe she's heard all the arguments before maybe she has a grudge against Trevor for something, he did in the past maybe she wants to stay in the department chair's favour, or maybe she just tired. Georgia seems drained by all the agitation and simply wants it to stop.

Questions 1. What are the individual conflict styles of Steve Trevor Helen Georgia and Art?

2. How could the group move towards a more collaborative group conflict style?

3. Which conflict management strategies have the potential to resolve sociology departments conflict in this situation?

4. Based on this meeting how cohesive does the sociology Department appear to be. what strategies could the department members used to enhance group cohesiveness