Assignment:
Managing Conflict Paper
Read the Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Units case study starting on p. 335, Ch. of Criminal Justice Organizations. Note: Access the case study via the Criminal Justice Organizations Case Study link in the Learning Activities folder.
Write a 700 to 1,050 word paper answering the questions at the end of the case study. Emphasize strategies that could have prevented much of the conflict that occurred in the scenario. Use the questions in "Think like an Administrator" on p. 337 for possible topics to cover.
CASE STUDY QUESTIONS
1. What type of conflict is described in the case study?
2. Mtitijurisdictional drug units are common across the court-try. What issues should be discussed and by whom before such a unt is created? How much of the impetus for the creation of these units can be attributed to increased fed¬eral funding and the irrational fear of drugs?
3. Suggest ways in which the conflict described in this case study could have been managed more effectively. Should the unit have ever existed?
Think Like an Administrator
Conflict is common within criminal justice organizations. Criminal justice administrators have recognized that the best they can do is manage conflict; eradication of organiza¬tional conflict is not only impossible to achieve, it also may be counterproductive. So, the best strategy is to appropriately manage conflict within organizations. Because we know that eradication of conflict is not possible within criminal justice organizations, how do we best manage organizational conflict?
1. Can you harness conflict by encouraging competition among groups within the organization?
2. How much conflict centers on the distribution of resources in the organization?
3. How does the desire for critical information create an atmosphere of conflict across criminal justice organizations?
4. How does a poor reward system create conflict within criminal justice organizations?
5. Describe "de-confliction" within police agencies, especially those agencies focused on multijunsdictional drug investigations.
6. How can conflict be used to initiate change within criminal justice organizations?
7. How do you know when conflict is both productive and/or nonproductive?