fandomhigh | Entries tagged with conflict management

Oz's class was being held in the Danger Shop this week.

"Greetings, and welcome to your final," Oz began once the class had finished arriving. "Which of course you're all ready for."

"Just like I told you last week that there were two parts to your final, there's two parts to this class as well, In the first we'll have presentations of revenge, where you tell the class who you think was assigned to prank you over the last week, and how you would get your revenge on them, there's a projector if any of you brought diagrams, then we'll have reveals where everyone will admit to who pranked who and you can all react appropriately."

"Let's get started then."

thefearwasreal

"Greetings, grasshoppers," Oz said as his class arrived in the classroom. "We're coming up on our final class together, which means it's time for you to get your final assignment, and it's a doozy." Which was always so comforting coming from Oz.

"In front of each of you is a slip of paper with a name. I want you to read that name, memorise it, and not tell anyone else what it is. Eat it if you feel that will preserve the mystery. You can look at your slips, now." Once the class had had a chance to, Oz continued. "Your assignment is in two parts, the first part is to plan and execute a prank against the person who's name was on your slip of paper before next week's class, preferably while remaining anonymous. It doesn't have to be a big one, and nothing dangerous, but something that will clearly be a prank to its victim. Clear?"

"The second part of your assigment is to plan your retaliation. You won't actually be carrying it out so escalate as far as you want. In fact over the top and overly complex plans are encouraged. Then in our final class you will present this plan for revenge and name you you believe the guilty party is. You will get extra marks for either correctly naming the guilty party or avoiding blame. You do both? Then you win at pranks."

"One final thing, you want to team up to get our victim? I' not going to stop you, just remember, you don't know who you're supposed to be the victim of."

thefearwasreal

There were a number of various-sized boxes on the desks when Oz's class arrived at the Danger Shop.

"Now, when embarking on a campaign of prank warfare, I personally prefer to be original, less chance of my victims being prepared." Oz began, which should probably serve as a warning to all, not for this specific class, just in general. "But at the same time, there are people who spend their time and creativity developing all sorts of gadgets and equipment for the less innovative prankster, and there's no reasons why you should not take advantage of every opportunity to learn from their example as well as mine."

He gestured to the boxes. "These contain a selection of toys and trinkets designed for pranking ones class- or work-mates. I want you to take them for a bit of a spin, see how they do or don't fit into your pranking style, which by now you should be starting to get an idea of. Just keep in mind that just because we're in the Danger Shop is no reasons to risk putting someone's eye out, so be careful. I don't want to have to explain anything to the nurses at the clinic."

[Wait for it.]

thefearwasreal

Today's class was being held in the Danger Shop, which looked remarkably like a bunker. Better safe than sorrier.

"So last week we looked at some classic small scale pranks, the week before that we looked at online conflict, today we have a movie that combines the two, with technology being used to take the art of petty pranks to the level of masterpiece." Of course, the but Oz wasn't about to tell his class that the computer science in the movie bore very little resemblance to reality, it might give them ideas.

thefearwasreal

They were back in a normal classroom this week. Though if Oz was aware of who'd arrived on the causeway this morning, he might have held class in a secure bunker instead.

"So, last week you all had a taste of virtual conflict, now we have the real thing. But we're going to start small, like these kinds of conflicts usually do, because while there are many brilliant and complex pranks, prank wars most often start on the spur of the moment, with any materials close to hand. Such as these." Oz gestured to the desk in the middle of the room, covered in all kinds of household and office paraphernalia. "Your mission, should you choose to accept it, and, yeah, you have to accept, is to come up with one or more pranks involving any of these items. Think annoying and ultimately harmless. You can work with each other if you're stumped."

"Extra credit if you test outside classroom conditions before next week."

thefearwasreal

Today, Oz had his class meet him in the computer lab.

"So, since so many of you are new to this business, before we get to the good stuff, I'm going to take this week to ease the newbies in with one of the easiest forms of conflict escalation known to modern times, online trolling."

Oz gestured to the computers. "These have been set up with their own dedicated forum. Each workstation is signed in to an existing account on this forum." With the ability to create more sockpuppets, but Oz wasn't going to mention that, let them figure it out. "Your job is to try to take a civil discussion to a disagreement, to an argument, to a full out flame-war, but try to be subtle about it, since hopefully by now the average web-user knows not to feed the trolls."

"One final thing to keep in mind, you mightn't be able to know who's posting what, but I will, the assignment is to start and escalate an argument, not abuse your classmates. You want to be an ass, not an asshole."

thefearwasreal

Oz's class was meeting in a normal classroom this week. Once everyone had arrived and found a seat, he began.

"Afternoon, kids, I'm Oz and this is Conflict Management for Dummies, if you're in the wrong place, stick around, you might learn something."

"Now usually conflict management is all about touchy-feely crap, and don't get me wrong that has it's place, I am a big fan of team bonding." Just ask his employees sometime, and ignore the shell-shocked looks while they replied. "But sometimes the person you're in conflict with is a real jerk who doesn't want to kiss and make nice, and even they did you know they'd be back to their old tricks the second they weren't being watched. Basically, sometimes conflict management is less about resolution and more about controlled escalation." Because that was a thing that always ended well.

"So over the the next few weeks, I'm going to be teaching you guys some conflict management techniques, which I highly encourage you to practice outside the classroom, at least the legal ones. But for now I just want your names, your year, and the best prank you ever pulled on someone." Just in case anyone was in doubt about the kind of techniques Oz was talking about.

thefearwasreal

"Well, kids," Oz said as they finished arriving. "It's been a long journey, but the finish line is finally in sight. After weeks of travel, of dealing with conflicts like cookie theft, being rained in, zombie hordes, and not having a map, you're less than an hour away from your destination."

"But." Of course there was a but. "Some would say the true test of conflict management is not how you handle the crisis, but how you handle the aftermath. Do you forgive grievances in an epiphany of aware for your fellow man, or do you repay them for every little grudge that's been building up by selling them down the river?"

"Well today you get to find out, because before you can cross the finish line, each of you have unexpected company, and you have to convince your classmates to help you deal with it."

[Go for it]

Current Mood: excited

thefearwasreal

Today the wagon was in what looked suspiciously like a swamp. Where they had managed to find a swamp, complete with what looked suspiciously like alligators, in the middle of the Great Plains was anyone's guess.

"Congratulations," Oz greeted them. "You escape the zombie, and it only cost you your spare oxen." Let's all have a minute of silence for that poor oxen. "But it turns out that you managed to get lost in the fog and now you have no idea where you are, and because a zombie stole the map you have no way of figuring out where you are."

"So your task for today is to try to work together to figure out a way out of the swamp without losing your last oxen."

"Also a bloodstained bandage showed up in Loco's washing, suggesting that one of you is concealing a zombie bite. Just saying."

[Go for it]

thefearwasreal

It was early morning on the Danger Shop's simulated plain. Thick fog blanketed the area around the wagon, rendering everything indistinct. That odd sound in the distance? Probably just the wind.

"One time when being able to effectively manage conflict is vital is when you have conflict on multiple fronts," Oz began without preamble, over that sound that was very likely just to be wind. Wind sounded very moany at times. "You cannot deal with an outside conflict when your team can't work together. But at the same time, the right kind of crisis can help bring a team together like no bodies business."

Anyone who found that statement reassuring was clearly in the wrong class. "For example, I've often found zombies particularly motivating."

It was probably pretty obvious by now that that moany, groany shuffling wasn't the wind.

[Post away]

thefearwasreal

Today, they were out on the prairie, the wagon barely visible in the mock pre-dawn light.

"We've mostly been focusing on non-violent conflict management solutions so far," Oz began, leaning against the side of the wagon, a box in his hands. "Mostly because they're the least likely to result in even more conflict, but at the same time sometime peaceful methods don't work that well, and you have to move onto more aggressive strategies. But on the other hand, violence tends to beget more violence and before you know it, you go from a disagreement over where to get waffles to everyone in the near vicinity being dead or injured." Not that Oz would admit to that incident ever actually happening.

"So what do you do? You go to mock violence. Video games, coin tosses, rock paper scissors, all stand ins for the real thing. Which is what we'll be working with today."

"Because it turns out that after three weeks travelling with each other, you've all found a way to get on each others nerves. Each of you have disagreements with the others, which you're going to try and talk through today. If you can't settle your disagreements peacefully, you've only got one solution." Oz opened the box. "Paintballs at dawn."

[Post away]

Current Mood: working

thefearwasreal

Oz was nowhere to be seen when his class arrived at the Danger Shpo, but there was a screen and projector set up outside the wagon, with a note attached.

Watch the film

There was also a bag of unpopped popcorn. It too had a note.

Make popcorn if you want.

[Post away]

Current Mood: hungry

thefearwasreal

Today Oz's class found themselves back in their covered wagon, which now smelt of wet oxen. Probably because it was raining outside of the wagon. As each student entered, Oz pressed a slip of paper into their hand.

"Welcome back, kids," he greeted them. "In the time since our last class, you've been making good time along your journey. Or at least you started to after Laurie found the map and you realised you were headed slightly off course. Otherwise it has been quiet and without incident, though it has been raining the last few days, and since you can neither hunt trade or cook in this weather, you've been on short rations and tempers are beginning to wear thin. Now if you could just glance at the slips of paper I gave you and then eat them?"

After they'd done so, Oz continued. "This morning, when Fortunate went to give everyone their breakfast, the biscuit tin was empty. Turns out someone was snacking out of turn, and it was the person with a dot on their paper."

"So, how do you figure out who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? And what do you do about it?"

[Post away]

Current Mood: hungry

thefearwasreal

An envelope with each of the student's names waited for them at the entrance to the Danger Shop. Inside they would have found themselves on the outskirts of what looked suspiciously like a frontier township, where Oz waited for them by the side of what looked even more suspiciously like a covered wagon, carrying a large nerf gun.

( This will surely end well. )

[Post away]

Current Mood: cheerful

idontlooktired.livejournal.com

Harriet smiled at everyone as they arrived. Once everyone was seated, she came around and leaned on the front of her desk. "The final today is simple. Answer one question, with reasons, and you're free to go. No one will fail as long as they're honest. This is our last class together, and I want to thank you all for being such good students. And Dr Wilson, for designing an excellent curriculum which I managed not to follow." She smiled again. "Enjoy your summers and do try not get into too much trouble. For those of you graduating this semester, I wish you all the best in your future."

idontlooktired.livejournal.com

"As it's your final next week," Harriet said, once everyone had arrived. "You can have today to revise. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me." She gave them a quick smile. "Though if your question is 'what's on the final' in any way, shape, or form you won't receive an answer."

idontlooktired.livejournal.com

Harriet was sitting at her desk today, working through a pile of paperwork.

Once everyone was seated, she looked up. "You'll find some papers on your desk. I'd like everyone to take the test and see what sort of personality you are. Once you've done that, compare your results with your classmates, and identify any advantages you think your type might have over the others when resolving a personal conflict."

idontlooktired.livejournal.com

Harriet stood and smiled at the class once everyone had arrived. "We've looked at some novel ways of solving conflicts, but novel doesn't mean effective in any but limited circumstances," she said, walking slowly around the classroom. "The key to effective conflict resolution is to know what your style is, and when that style is the wrong style for the situation."

"There are five main styles of conflict management and resolution: Cooperative problem-solving, competing, avoiding, accommodating and compromising. One way of remembering and exploring these different styles is to associate each with an animal." Harriet passed around a handout.

"These are just some examples. Now, what I want you to do is work out what sort of conflict management style comes most naturally to you. I also want you to really think about what you would do if you couldn't use your preferred option. What would you try next? What style would you never try? How would you respond to each of those if they were directed at you? Once you've done that, I want you to pick an animal that you think best fits you and your conflict style."

Harriet sat back down at her desk and gave them another smile. This one might not be so reassuring. "It can be any animal, it doesn't have to be one of the ones on the handout, and you can work individually or in pairs. Do make sure you each identify an animal, though, and remember it for next week."

[ooc: ETA to say next week you're actually going to be whatever animal you choose, so feel free to bear that bit of OOC knowledge in mind while picking your critter.]

idontlooktired.livejournal.com

Class was being held in the danger shop today. The floor was springy, bouncy even, and had a number of large circles drawn on it in white paint.

Along one wall were a number of inflatable sumo suits.

"Today we are going to look at resolving a conflict through physical means. There is a long history of resolving disagreements in this way, such as duelling and trial by combat. Trial by combat did, in some circumstances, permit the use of champions, to fight on behalf of the accused. Interestingly enough, there's a school of thought that believes the modern legal system is just a slightly more civilised version of trial by combat, with barristers as the champions."

Harriet shook her head. "Having known a number of barristers in my time, I'm not so sure I agree with 'more civilised'. Nevertheless, today we are going try out our own version of conflict resolution by physical means." She swept a hand at the suits. "Sumo wrestling. Suit up, find a partner, and pick a ring. The first person to force the other out of the ring is the winner."

idontlooktired.livejournal.com

Harriet was sitting at the front of the class, looking through some papers, while she waited for the students. Once everyone arrived, she stood to address them. "Good morning, class. I'm Dean Jones. I'm sorry to have to tell you that Dr Wilson has had to leave the island, but we do wish him all the best. I'll be taking your class for the remainder of the semester, and I'll try and make the transition as smooth as possible.

I thought, for today, we might try something a little different. Conflict management and conflict resolution are of great value to everyone, but sometimes what seems to be an attempt to smooth over a conflict is no such thing.

So we're going to do a little exercise to look at when conflict resolution isn't. I want you to get into groups of three - choose one person to be the mediator, and the other two are to invent a conflict between them. The mediator is to attempt to inflame the conflict into something incredibly volatile, while giving the appearance of trying to smooth things over.

There are a number of people who excel at this, many of whom have popular TV shows in this country. Feel free to use them as your inspiration, but I do ask that you to refrain from excessive chair throwing."

[ooc: Yes, I'm thinking Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, baby mamas and my boyfriend's a 'cheating on me. Make your own groups, and you can work out who will be what either OOC or IG!

Please wait for OCD.

We have OCD.]

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