PAD 4046 - Managing Conflict in Public Organizations

College of Public Safety Administration

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Spring 2023 (615)

Requisites

Prerequisite PAD 3820 with a minimum grade of C and
(Admission to Public Safety Administration (Bachelor of Applied Science) (PSA-BAS) or
Admission to Paralegal Studies (Bachelor of Applied Science) (LEGAL-BAS))

Course Description

This course will examine the various conflict situations in public organizations to include how values and ethics influence the behavior of administrators in making decisions that affect the philosophy and goals of the organization. In addition, focus will be placed on the role of administrators as conflict managers by examining and providing various conflict resolution mechanisms and strategies that are cost-effective to the organization.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will discuss how personal values influence their approach to ethical situations resulting in conflict by:
    1. explaining what comprises an administrator’s self-awareness and how it relates to their decisions.
    2. examining the effectiveness of self-control as a prerequisite to resolving conflict.
    3. defining what conflict competent leadership entails.
  2. The student will describe the basic dynamics of conflict and how it affects an organization by:
    1. defining what a true “conflict” is.
    2. determining whether the conflict is personal in nature or whether it affects the organization as a whole.
    3. identifying situations that should be addressed by the administrator before they turn into a conflict.
    4. identifying different types of conflicts, such as management-employee, employee- employee, third party-employee and third party-employer.
  3. The student will describe the behavioral skills needed to become an effective conflict manager by:
    1. examining the role of the administrator as a conflict manager.
    2. articulating a comprehensive approach to managing conflict.
    3. demonstrating the qualities associated with effective conflict management.
  4. The student will propose how effective conflict management can create conflict competence in their organization by:
    1. identifying techniques and methods for providing a favorable environment to resolve conflict.
    2. identifying effective alternatives employees can use to address their conflicts.
    3. developing appropriate organizational policies and rules that effectively manage conflict.
    4. describing a favorable psychological environment which encourages open and candid communication among employees.
    5. demonstrating techniques that build trust with employees.
    6. defining arbitration and how it can be a helpful tool for resolving conflict.
    7. defining mediation and how it can be a helpful tool for resolving conflict.
    8. describing organizational initiatives associated with the latest conflict management techniques.
    9. identifying various organizational deficiencies that result in continued conflict.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through objective classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I Approval: 12/02/2011, BOT Approval: 02/21/2012, Effective Term: Summer 2012 (455).
C&I Approval: 08/12/2016, BOT Approval: 04/18/2023, Effective Term: Spring 2023 (615)

Related Programs

  1. Public Safety Administration (PSA-BAS) (655) (Active)