A skills presentation provided to the University of Cape Town Sub-wardens to assist them in managing conflict of campus.

1. CREATIVE
CONFLICT
HANDLINGUNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN SUB-WARDENS ORIENTATION
(FIRST PRESENTED ON 1ST
FEBRUARY 2006 )
KHOLISILE MAZAZA
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN - CENTRE FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION (CCR)

2. 1. Understanding Conflict
 Definitions of conflict bring up words such as fight,
struggle, opposition, clash, war, etc.
 Coser (1967) defines conflict as a struggle, for
scarce resources, status, power, where the aim is to
neutralise, injure, eliminate rivals.
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3. Understanding Conflict
 The Chinese symbol of conflict is completed by two
parts each with a different meaning.
 One part is “WEI” and the other is “CHI”
 “WEI” means DANGER
 While “CHI” means OPPORTUNITY
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4. Understanding Conflict
 Conflict is a natural occurrence
 People are susceptible negative result of conflict as
they pursue self-interest
 Conflict can pose a danger if misunderstood
 Conflict is an opportunity for growth and discovery
 Conflict is inevitable and necessary
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5. Understanding Conflict
 Manfred Max-Neef says that people have the
following Human Needs:
 Freedom, identity, subsistence, security, affection,
understanding, participation, creativity, recreation,
spirituality, etc.
 Any perceived change or deprivation affecting
these needs might lead to tension.
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6. 2. Wheel of Conflict
 When conflict occurs there are several areas to
examine in order to gain a better understanding of
the occurring conflict and creatively deal with it:
 Resources, Relationships, Data, Interests, Structure,
and Values
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7. 3. Conflict Cycle
 Beliefs and attitudes about and towards conflict
 [When] conflict occurs
 [How] responses to conflict happen
 [The] consequence of the response
 Reinforcement or challenge the beliefs and attitude
 Hopefully this can lead to reflection
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8. 4. Conflict Handling Styles
 Competition – assertive &
uncooperative [my way]
 Accommodation – non-assertive &
cooperative [your way]
 Avoiding – non-assertive &
uncooperative [no way]
 Compromising – give and take
[half-way]
 Problem-solving – assertive and
cooperative [our way]
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9. 5. Kinds of conflict
 Intrapersonal
 Interpersonal
 Intragroup
 Intergroup
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10. 6. Handling Conflict Creatively
 Institutional Development Paradigm:
 Develop a shared vision
 Set objectives
 Institutionalise a peace culture
 Develop and build life and conflict
resolution skills
 Support and encourage sport and
recreation
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11. Institutional Development
Paradigm
 Institutionalise a conflict management
system
 Train peer mediators
 Encourage ownership of processes
 Commit to Problem solving approach
 Recognise COMMUNICATION as life
blood of a healthy environment
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