Date of Award

12-2-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Rhetoric and Writing

First Advisor

Dr. Karen Kuralt

Abstract

Conflict has been generally recognized as stemming from a lack of communication or ineffective communication in most workplaces, but a misunderstanding and a lack of knowledge of organizational cultures and discourse communities are almost equally to blame. Knowing how to communicate and work together and learn from each other is helpful, but internal and external conflict may be prevented or resolved from simple knowledge of organizational establishment. For anyone to listen to what you have to say involves you presenting yourself as an ethical person. Having a personal code of ethics is a start, but you must be able to effectively communicate to others (verbally and through body language) what your ethical beliefs and practices are. Your actions must coincide with that communication. When others know who you are as a person and trust you, it is easier for them to work with you and learn from you, generating a learning process of discourse communities and organizational cultures. This paper serves as a guide for people in a workplace who find themselves in conflicting situations and do not know how to handle them. This guide will guide them in how to resolve conflict, prevent conflict, influence change, or just walk away.

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