Managing Intercultural Conflict Effectively

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.

This is one of the first books that clearly emphasizes the role of culture and how culture serves as the primary imprint in our habitual conflict responses. It aims to improve understanding and communication among individuals from different cultural backgrounds and explains the culture-based situational conflict model, including the relationship among conflict, ethnicity, and culture; and integrates theory and practice in the discussion of interpersonal conflict in culture, ethnic, and gender contexts. Practical examples are used to illustrate the application of theory.

About the AuthorsList of Figures & TablesPreface1. Intercultural Conflict. An Introduction Practical Reasons Culture: A Learned Meaning System Intercultural Conflict: Basic Assumptions2. 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 Conclusion3. 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 Guidelines4. 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 Guidelines5. 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 Guidelines6. Managing Intercultural Conflict Competently Knowledge Dimension Mindfulness Dimension Constructive Conflict Skills Dimension ConclusionsAppendix: Measures of Face Concerns and Facework Behaviors in Four National CulturesData Collection ProceduresResults of Panculture Factor AnalysesReferencesIndex