Page 267 - Business Principles and Management

Unit 3

usually leads to a workable solution, as everyone involved personally contributes
to the decision. Also, people are more likely to support a compromise solution
that they have helped to develop.

WIN/LOSE STRATEGY The most dangerous approach to resolving conflict is a
win/lose strategy. A win/lose strategy is one in which no one compromises,
thereby resulting in one person winning and one losing. A win/lose strategy
is never acceptable to everyone, although people often engage in such a
strategy. Win/lose strategies interfere with the achievement of organizational
goals because they often (1) take time and energy away from the main prob-
lems and issues, (2) delay decisions, (3) arouse anger that hurts human
relationships, and (4) cause personal resentment, which can lead to other
problems.
Because win/lose situations are destructive, managers should attempt to pre-
vent them. Setting clear objectives that employees understand and agree on,
stressing the need for cooperation in reaching objectives, and working for group
decisions when special problems or disagreements arise are ways managers can
avoid win/lose strategies.

CHECKPOINT

List three ways that managers can resolve conflicts.

Cross-Cultural Communication Problems
What kinds of communication
barriers might companies face Cultures differ from country to country. A country’s culture influences how
when doing business abroad? its people communicate, just as corporate culture does within organizations.
When doing business abroad, companies face communication barriers created
by language, cultural, and nonverbal
differences.

LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES

Few American managers speak a foreign
language fluently. However, doing so does
not solve all problems when someone is
transferred to another country. The people
of most nations realize that learning a new
language is difficult. But they are more
than willing to help foreigners learn. They
are especially impressed when someone
who does not know their language makes
PHOTO: © DIGITAL VISION. now provide intensive language training
a noble effort to learn. Many corporations
for managers assigned to foreign branches.
Information on the social customs and
education, legal, and political systems is
included in the training.

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