Current Conflict Management Training: An Examination of Practices in Ten Large American Organizations

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to describe current conflict manage ment training practices in 10 large American organizations. Rep resenting both the private and public sectors, selected organizations were chosen because of their state commitment to training and de velopment, varying sizes of employee populations, and diversity of organizational activities. Specifically, conflict management training practices are described for these organizations in the categories of annual number of program participants, position levels of par ticipants, cost per participant, participant selection criteria, length of program, status of course offering, curriculum generation and delivery, and number of years for program existence. Additionally, content categories were developed from a review of conflict and organizational conflict literature. The 10 training programs are described by subject areas grouped into content categories of (1) concepts and causes of conflict, (2) analytical processes for understanding conflict, and (3) conflict management strategies and tactics. Results and implications for further research are discussed.