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ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Sources of conflict and techniques for conflict resolution

A manager faces a minor disagreement between two team members over desk layout. The manager decides it is trivial, takes no action and lets it settle by itself. Which style does this represent, and is it appropriate?

This is avoiding, and it is appropriate here. Avoidance is low in both assertiveness and cooperativeness, and it suits trivial issues where confronting the matter would cost more than the benefit. The manager neither imposes a view nor yields to anyone.

  1. AAccommodating, and inappropriate because the manager is too cooperative
  2. BAvoiding, and appropriate because the issue is trivialCorrect
  3. CCompeting, and appropriate because the manager has authority

Explanation

Taking no action to address the issue is avoiding, which is low on both assertiveness and cooperativeness. It is suitable where the issue is trivial or the costs of confronting it outweigh the benefits. It is not competing, as no one is pushing a position, and not accommodating, as nobody is yielding.

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