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Communication & Conflict
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Topics
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 | Functions of Communication |
| Information Flow |
| Communication Channels |
| Barriers to Effective Communication |
| Functional vs. Dysfunctional Conflict |
| Bargaining and Negotiation |
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Readings
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Lecture Notes
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Web Resources
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Video Picks
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| There are several good movies
that illustrate the challenge of effective communication, particularly in
the face of cultural differences. A few of my personal favorites include: |
| Enemy Mine
(1985) staring Dennis Quaid and Louis Gosset Jr.: A science fiction
fantasy that tells the tale of two creatures from different
worlds who while fighting one another crash land on the same barren
planet. They are soon forced to learn how to communicate and
become friends in order to survive. The film illustrates many of
the common barriers to effective interpersonal communication. |
| Crimson Tide
(1995) staring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman: Tells the tale of a
breakdown in the chain of command on a nuclear submarine that results
when communication between the submarine and headquarters is severed. |
| Dead Ahead: The Exxon
Valdez Disaster (1992): An HBO movie that tells the tale
of the Exxon Valdez accident and the cleanup efforts. While not
the greatest movie in the world, the movie does give a fairly accurate
depiction of how communication problems between federal, state, and
local government agencies and the public impeded the cleanup efforts. |
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| There are several good movies that focus on some of workplace
issues that we will discuss in class. A few personal favorites include: |
| The Tuskegee Airmen (1995) staring
Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., John Lithgow, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner: An
action-filled dramatization of the true story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first squadron
of black American pilots to defend their country in World War II. Overcoming nearly
insurmountable racial obstacles, the men of the "Fighting 99th" distinguished
themselves and their race. While the movie is primarily historical and deals with
questions of integration, many of the issues and stereotypes displayed by characters in
the movie are applicable to discussions of affirmative action. |
| Disclosure (1994) staring Michael
Douglas, Demi Moore, Donald Sutherland, and Dennis Miller: Based on Michael Crichton's
controversial bestseller, a powerful woman at a computer software company jeopardizes
a
man's career when he spurns her sexual advances. While the movie illustrates a rare
type of sexual harassment (women on male), it does illustrate many of the common
problems that confront the accuser and the classic response of many organizations.
It is also interesting to note how far the field of sexual harassment law has moved in
just a few short years since the movie was released. The movie is also a good
illustration of how the organizational culture in a high technology firm often differs
from many of the public organizations we will examine during the semester. |
| Silkwood (1983) staring Meryl
Streep, Kurt Russell, Cher, and Craig T. Nelson: Based on the true story of Karen
Silkwood, an employee of an Oklahoma plutonium plant who died in a mysterious car accident
before blowing the whistle about dangerous conditions at the plant. It is a good
illustration of why whistle blowers are often an importance source of accountability.
It also illustrates various issues related to workplace safety. The movie
received 5 Academy Award nominations including Best Director, Best
Actress--Meryl Streep,
and Best (Original) Screenplay. It is interesting to note that in the Summer of 1999
the Department of Energy admitted for the first time some liability in work related
illnesses in some of its processing facilities and agreed to pay workers some
compensation for exposure to specific materials. |
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