Managing Conflict in a Negotiated World: A Narrative Approach to Achieving Productive Dialogue and Change

Kellett and Dalton present a core text in Conflict Management derived from extensive class testing of their material. Their book helps readers understand the elements of conflict and then act on that understanding by managing conflict better in each area of their lives - work, family, and community. Each chapter begins with a chapter overview, key terms, learning objectives, and case study narratives, and concludes with a summary, discussion questions, and additional exercises. These features help students absorb the material better by previewing what they are going to learn, then reviewing and practicing what they have learned. The book includes separate chapters on conflict in one's community, global conflict, and mediation. Peter M. Kellett (Ph.D., Southern Illinois University) is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Communication at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  His research, teaching, and service focus on the narrative analysis and dialogic management of conflict as this helps people build healthier, more productive and peaceful relationships.  His most recent publication is, "Dialectical Tensions and Dialogic Moments as Pathways to Peak Experiences" (with H.L. Goodall, Jr.), in R. Anderson, L.A. Baxter, & K.N. Cissna (2004), Dialogue: Theorizing Differences in Communication Studies.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Introduction PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING CONFLICT NARRATIVES Conflict and Dialogue in a Negotiated World Conflict Narratives as a Good Place to Start Representing Self, Other and Context Ways of Constructing and Interpreting Conflict Narratives PART TWO: CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH NARRATIVE Managing Conflict in Our Communities Managing Conflicts at Work Managing Conflict in Family Relationships Managing Conflict in Interpersonal Relationships