Introduction, technical background to the course and motivation

Projects now cross all kinds of boundaries. Mergers and acquisitions and more free-lancers, clients and partners in disparate locations all complicate project coordination. Different organizations, professions, national cultures and generations often expect and want diverse things and have different ways of working.  These differences multiply the chances for misunderstanding, conflict, and quality problems. And can defeat project deadlines.

In this workshop series we’ll learn methods to resolve real culture clashes where everyone gains something they want. We would all like to communicate more successfully and reduce frustration in our challenging work situations. Leaders and project managers can improve project results by motivating others and minimizing the many problems from cultural clashes. Follow-up coaching will help participants continue to improve conflict resolution skills despite project deadlines.

Outline of the topics to be covered

Session 1

• Distinguish productive and unproductive conflict; separate people from the problem

• Identify key differences in cultures – corporate, national, professional and generational cultures and values - that can trigger misunderstandings, disruption and conflict

• Identify and understand your own conflict behaviors

• Distinguish “interests” (which conflict resolution must address) from “positions”

• Clarify and practice communication styles that respond appropriately to the situation and the people

• Learn techniques to identify your own and your colleagues’ interests

Session 2

• Clarify what a good, fair resolution includes

• Learn to generate new options through joint problem-solving

• Try techniques for building common ground, mutual gains

• Discuss “booby traps” for gaining a resolution that you will like and ways to get around them

• Match communication media with situation to better assess when “virtual” communication can achieve the desired outcomes

• Practice resolving real culture clashes

• Reflect on ways to immediately improve your own management and work practices

Benefits of attending:

• Understand more about the ways cultural differences affect our communications, expectations, and performance

• Learn techniques to improve your reaction to and potential to resolve cultural clashes

• Appreciate specific styles and types of communications that induce the best from the diverse people with whom you work

• Learn ways to minimize the problems from cultural conflict and to engage people in finding solutions and improving the delivery and quality of the project

Target audience: Who Should Participate

Business and technical professionals who want to improve their ability to work successfully with other organizations, generations, professions, and nationalities where diverse expectations and assumptions kindle frustration, misunderstanding or conflict.

Materials with course: The course will offer copies of our slides, relevant articles and additional resources for individual follow-up. These will be both paper and digital files.

Lecturer’s Bio: Nance Goldstein works for results as a trainer, professor and organizational consultant. Her Working Wisely Group enables organizations and individuals to improve both performance and professional pride in the face of our ever-more complex work environment. She offers leadership workshops on communication, collaboration and conflict mediation.  Participants explore and practice skills for project success - Boston Society of Architects, Women in Technology International, Women in Management, Harvard University, and IEEE Boston. Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Brandeis University WSRC and National Science Foundation have honored her work on technological change and IT-mediated remote work. She publishes in both academic journals and the popular press, including WITI’s The Strategist, Boston Women’s Business, Boston Herald and Insight (NE Human Resources Association). For further information, contact nance.goldstein@post.harvard.edu

Decision (Run/Cancel) Date for  this Courses is Wednesday, May 6,2008

Course Fee Schedule:

On-line Registration and Payment

This course has been cancelled.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IEEE office at 781-245-5405.

Copyright © 2008 IEEE Boston Section. All rights reserved.
Maintained by R M Stelting

Updated Thursday May 08, 2008