1. Conflict Communication
396
By TaNay Morris, Jamie Bronska, Nicole
Sadowski and Cole P. Griffin
“From Conflict comes growth…”
- Professor Wright-Dixon

2. Overview
• The need for this course
• Benefits of Conflict Communication
• Implementation Plan
• Cost and Resource Analysis

3. Bridging Gap
• Current gap exists between Interpersonal
and Organizational Communication
• Conflict resolution for students
• Need for more hands-on-skills development

4. Greater Success in the Workplace
• Predominantly consists of juniors
and seniors entering the workforce
• Workshops and in-class activities
• Hands-on experience resolving
common conflicts

5. Mastering Theories by Applying Skills
Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode
Instrument (TKI)
Blake Mouton Managerial Grid

6. New Area of Research
• This new course could inspire professors in
the department of communication to research
the important topic of conflict
• New research and publication opportunities
could mean more money and recognition for
the department
• Resulting in satisfied department, professors,
and students

7. Content Outline
• Brief overview of conflict
related theories
• Trust
• Conflict in organizations
• Benefits of conflict
• Microaggressions/ Cultural
Values/ Gendered
communication
• Personality clashes
• Conflict and social media
• Forgiveness and reconciliation
• Putting it all together (Brief
summary of what the students
have learned)
• Hands on experience with UIUC
theater group (Final project)

8. In class activity examples
• Fight or flight individual conflict style
activity
• Final project with UIUC theater group

9. Implementation Plan
April 4th-15th, 2016
• Speak with Department Head, David
Tewksbury
• Check for similar classes
• Pitch final idea to the Department Head,
Associate Department Head, and Trina
Wright-Dixon (Today)
Step 1

10. Implementation Plan
May 1st- August 15th, 2016
• Create the syllabus from the content
outline
• Grading scale
• Points for in class activities
• Additional research for Professor
Wright-Dixon or another qualified
professor
Step 2

11. Implementation Plan
August 15th- October 16th, 2016
• Last-minute tweaks to syllabus
• Add to the University’s registration
under communication courses
• If successful, becomes a permanent
course
Step 3

12. Implementation Plan
Ongoing
• ICES reviews
• Student reviews of the course
• Improving the course
Step 4

13. Cost/Resource Analysis
• Cut back on resources needed
for recruitment and hiring
• Win-win

14. Conclusion
• Small investment for long-term benefits (research, publications, and
student value)
• 3 main benefits
• Already have competent instructors in place
• Highly encourage department to make our course available for Spring 2017

15. Conflict Managed

16. References
• Ditewig-Morris, K. (2016, April 4).
• Harwood, S. A., Choi, S., Orozco, M., Browne Huntt, M., & Mendenhall, R. (2015).
Racial microaggressions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign:
Voices of students of color in the classroom. University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.
• Public University Administrator and Faculty Salary & Benefits Database. (n.d.).
Retrieved April 13, 2016, from http://salarysearch.ibhe.org/search.aspx
• Tewksbury, D. (2016, April 4).
• Wright-Dixon, T. (2016, April 12)