Background Information

Conflict handling style
Based on the background information provided above, competing handling style was used in this situations. Competing is a style where one advocate over the need of other and relies on aggressive communication while not regarding future relationship with the other party. Robert and his team has put extra effort and generated increased profit for the organisation, hence he believes that he and his team deserves a raise and to be compensated. However, Key believes that the extra income should be used to expand and diversify the company. Therefore, it creates a conflict between Robert and Kay. While Kay is willing to seat with Robert and communicate with him regarding his team getting involved in a new project. However, Robert is not interested in communicating with Kay but threatening Kay that he will get the union involved if his request for compensation is unsuccessful. Robert is refusing to work with Key and only focuses on his need which is a compensation. He is very aggressive against Kay as he is threatening with union involvement. Hence, this shows that competing handling style was used in this situation.
Bargaining Approach

In this situation, Kay is using integrative approach. Kay understand the reasons behind Robert communication and would like to seat with to discuss it with him. Hence, Kay is trying to create a free and open flow of communication through discussion. Also Kay is trying to create a win-win situation through discussion and search for solutions where both parties benefit. By providing new project opportunity for the Robert and his team, they can have more opportunities to get compensations from any future projects rather than shutting them completely from any compensations, hence Kay is trying to compromise.
Interpersonal Communication
During the situation, it is clear the Roberts lacks listening skills as he does not want to listens to Kay and only wish to push his demand to Kay. Kay, in the other hand, is will to listen to Robert by sitting down with him. Kay is willing to listen to Robert’s demand and willing to work things out where both parties can be satisfied with the outcome. Due to Roberts approach where is refusing to listen and trying to threaten Kay, it is contributing to the bad working environment. Not only this lowers the relationship between Kay and Roberts but also making things more complicated for both parties to deal with.
Hall’s context model

In the situation, Kay would like to talk with Robert and discuss with him. However, Robert does not want to talk to Robert is only interested in pushing his demand. Robert behavior is low context as he is provide straightforward message to the other party. He is providing explicit communication as it does not any room for interpretation or questioning.
Conclusion
This situation clearly distinguish two different individual who uses different communication skills and bargaining approach. From comparing these two individual provides how each communication works and how it may create problems. While Robert way of communication provide clear message, however, does not provide enough space for discussion and only ties to push his demand. Kay way of communication is more flexible as it provide more room for discussion.
Hey Sol, great job on expressing your views and analysis on the case study. It is clear cut that the conflict handle style by Robert is competing, as Robert doesn’t care about what Kay is going to propose and only believes that he and his team should be rewarded for all their hard work. Instead on using Robert, you talked about Kay in the Bargaining Approach session, to show that Kay is trying to approach Robert in an integrative manner, which further proves that Robert is aggressive and only wants what he demands, while all Kay wants is discussion. From your post, you manage to talk about both sides of the party, which allows me, as a reader, to have a clear understanding who is open and who is demanding. Keep up the great word..
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Hey sol kwon! Great job in expressing your thoughts and analysis on the case study!It is clear and explicit.However i think that you might like to add what are the different types of conflict handling styles etc so that the first time reader will be more clear about it,I agreed with you that the conflict handling style by Robert is competing as he is unmoved after what Kay was offering.Further you manage to talk about the perspective of both parties! It gave me a feel that you are well verse and knowledgeable about what you are writing and is clear about the above scenario. Anyway,continue keeping up the good work!
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