Managing Intercultural Conflict Effectively: (Communicating Effectively in Multicultural Contexts)

In this volume, Ting-Toomey and Oetzel accomplish two objectives: to explain the culture-based situational conflict model, including the relationship among conflict, ethnicity, and culture; and, second, integrate theory and practice in the discussion of interpersonal conflict in culture, ethnic, and gender contexts. While the book is theoretically directed, it is also a down-to-earth practical book that contains ample examples, conflict dialogues, and critical incidents. Managing Intercultural Conflict Effectively helps to illustrate the complexity of intercultural conflict interactions and readers will gain a broad yet integrative perspective in assessing intercultural conflict situations. The book is a multidisciplinary text that draws from the research work of a variety of disciplines such as cross-cultural psychology, social psychology, sociology, marital and family studies, international management, and communication.

Table of Contents:
About the Authors List of Figures & Tables Preface 1. Intercultural Conflict. An Introduction Practical Reasons Culture: A Learned Meaning System Intercultural Conflict: Basic Assumptions 2. Intercultural Conflict. A Culture-Based Situational Model A Culture-Based Situational Conflict Model: Primary Orientation Factors Situational and Relationship Boundary Features Intercultural Conflict Communication: Process Factors Intercultural Conflict Competence: Four Criteria Conclusion 3. Intercultural-Intimate Conflict in Personal Relationships Intercultural -Intimate Conflict: Primary Factors Intercultural -Intimate Conflict: Situational Features Intercultural -Intimate Conflict: Process Factors Intercultural -Intimate Conflict: Outcome Dimensions Intercultural -Intimate Conflict: Practical Guidelines 4. Intercultural Conflict in Diverse Work Groups What is a Group? Sources of Conflict in a Culturally Diverse Group Culture-Based Situational Features: Influence of Group Inputs on Conflict Process Combined Situational and Process Factors: Influence of Conflict Process on Group Outputs Intercultural Conflict in Diverse Work Groups: Practical Guidelines 5. Intercultural Conflict Between Managers and Employees in Organizations Conflicts Between Managers and Employees Primary Orientation Factors: A Model of Conflict Approaches Conflicts in Multinational Organizations Culturally Diverse Organizations in the United States Intercultural Conflict Between Managers and Employees: Practical Guidelines 6. Managing Intercultural Conflict Competently Knowledge Dimension Mindfulness Dimension Constructive Conflict Skills Dimension Conclusions Appendix: Measures of Face Concerns and Facework Behaviors in Four National Cultures Data Collection Procedures Results of Panculture Factor Analyses References Index

About the Author :
Stella Ting-Toomey (PhD, University of Washington) is a professor of human communication at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). She has published numerous books and over more than 100 articles/chapters on the topics of intercultural conflict competence and ethnic identity negotiation process. A recent book title is Understanding Intercultural Communication, Second Edition (with Leeva Chung; Oxford University Press). Her publications have also appeared in the International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Communication Monographs, Human Communication Research, and The International Journal of Conflict Management, among others. Dr. Ting-Toomey’s teaching passions include intercultural conflict theory and practice and intercultural communication training. She is the 2008 recipient of the 23-campus wide CSU Wang Family Excellence Award, and the 2007–2008 recipient of the CSU-Fullerton Outstanding Professor Award. She has lectured widely throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe on the theme of mindful intercultural conflict competence. John G. Oetzel (PhD, University of Iowa), is a professor in the Department of Management Communication in the Waikato Management School at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. He teaches courses in conflict, intercultural communication, health communication, and research methods. His research program centers on understanding and improving challenging communication among people with different group identities (particularly cultural identities). Dr. Oetzel uses quantitative survey methods and/or mixed-method designs to address three strands: (1) conflict in culturally diverse work groups and organizations, (2) communication in the health care delivery process, and (3) partnerships between community members and academics to address community health. He is co-author (with Stella Ting-Toomey) of Managing Intercultural Communication Effectively (2001, SAGE) and author of Intercultural Communication: A Layered Approach (2009, Pearson). He is also the author of more than 60 articles and book chapters.

Review :
"The authors of this book bring intercultural research and theory together and develop a practical framework for understanding intercultural conflict, leading to some very specific suggestions for how we can deal with it more effectively. Whereas most literature in this area focuses on a specific context, e.g. within the family, within business organizations, or within small groups, this book spans all these contexts. This book is written for people who are involved in intimate relationships, group-work, and manager- employee relationships —in other words, everyone can benefit."