In this document, the discussion questions AND explain each action you took to resolve this conflict and why chose this particular course of action. In short, arguing for the logic of decisions and actions, so be sure to back up each action with a good reason that demonstrates a clear understanding of the problem, your audience, and the professional writing situation at hand.
Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!
Below is a step-by-step, student-ready guide that shows exactly how to structure your case-study response, how to explain each action you took, and how to justify those actions professionally and persuasively.
Step 1 โ Read & Map the Case (Do this first)
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Read the entire case carefully at least twice.
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Annotate: highlight facts, conflict triggers, stakeholders, dates, policies, and quotes.
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Create a one-page โfact mapโ summarizing: who, what, when, where, why, and the immediate consequences.
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Identify the primary conflict and any secondary issues (budget, communications, policy, personalities).
Why: Accurate comprehension prevents misattributing causes and ensures your proposed actions respond to real problems โ not assumptions.
Step 2 โ Identify Stakeholders & Their Interests
Make a stakeholder table (name/role / interest / power / likely reaction). Examples:
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Friends of the Library board (fundraising, reputation)
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Library director/staff (operations, policies)
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Volunteers/members (recognition, roles)
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Patrons/community (access, programming)
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Local government/funders (accountability, outcomes)
Why: Knowing interests/power helps you choose actions that are feasible, ethical, and likely to gain buy-in.
Step 3 โ Analyze Root Causes (not just symptoms)
Use one or two short analytical tools:
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Fishbone (cause/effect) for operational problems.
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5 Whys to peel back to root cause (e.g., โWhy did event fail?โ โ scheduling conflict โ lack of communication policy โ no calendar protocol).
Why: Solving symptoms (e.g., rearranging schedules) without addressing root causes leads to repeat problems.
Step 4 โ Select & Justify Actions (Core of the assignment)
For each discussion question where you must โexplain each action you took,โ present actions using this exact mini-template โ repeat this template for every action you claim.
Action Template (use as a heading for each action):
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Action (What I did): short, clear sentence.
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Purpose (Why I did it): one sentence linking the action to root cause or stakeholder need.
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Audience Consideration: who was involved/affected and why the action was appropriate for them.
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Evidence/Reasoning: cite a policy, best practice, or case fact that supports the choice (e.g., โdepartment policy requires 2-week noticeโ or โconflict literature recommends neutral facilitationโ).
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Expected Outcome: what you aimed to achieve (short, measurable if possible).
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Result/Reflection: what actually happened and what you learned (if this is hypothetical, explain the plausible outcome and contingencies).
Example (short):
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Action: Convened a 60-minute mediated meeting with the Friendsโ board chair and library director facilitated by a neutral third party.
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Purpose: To create a safe space to re-establish shared facts and rebuild trust.
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Audience: Board and directorโboth have high power and conflicting perceptions.
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Evidence: Mediation reduces escalation and preserves relationships (Harvard Negotiation Project principles).
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Expected outcome: Agreed list of 3 immediate tasks and a communication protocol.
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Result/Reflection: (Describe what happened / why it was effective or what youโd change.)
Why: This template makes your logic explicit and easy for graders to follow.
Step 5 โ Choose Conflict-Resolution Tools & Explain Why
List each tool you used and justify it briefly:
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Mediation (use when parties still willing to communicate). Justify: neutral facilitation reduces bias and rebuilds trust.
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Policy revision (if rule gaps caused dispute). Justify: prevents recurrence by changing system not people.
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One-on-one coaching/feedback (for interpersonal issues). Justify: preserves dignity, prevents public escalation.
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Public communication plan (if patrons were confused). Justify: transparency restores public confidence.
Why: Linking the tool to the problem type shows strategic thinking, not random tactics.
Step 6 โ Address Audience & Tone (Professional Writing)
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Use formal, concise language when writing for board or administration.
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Use empathic, collaborative tone when describing interactions with volunteers or patrons.
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When documenting actions, avoid blaming language; use objective descriptions and evidence.
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If recommending disciplinary steps, include due process language and refer to policy.
Why: Tone and audience determine credibility and acceptance of your recommendations.
Step 7 โ Evidence & Professional Justification
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Cite case facts (dates, emails, attendance numbers) as evidence for each action.
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Where appropriate, cite one or two external, scholarly or professional sources (conflict resolution, nonprofit governance, communication best practices). Use APA 7th for in-text citations and references.
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If no external source was used, state that decision was based on case facts and best practice logic.
Why: Grounding actions in evidence prevents the โopinionโ critique.
Step 8 โ Structure & Formatting (How to present your document)
Use the following structure in the paper/document:
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Title & brief case summary (1 paragraph)
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Stakeholder map (table)
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Root cause analysis (bullet points/diagram)
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Action log โ repeat the Action Template for every action (this is the core requirement). Each action โ 80โ150 words.
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Outcomes & timeline โ what happened and when.
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Reflection & lessons learned โ what worked, what didnโt, what youโd change.
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Appendices (if needed): timelines, emails, policy excerpts.
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References (APA 7th)
Why: Clear headings make it easy for graders to locate the requested explanation for each action.
Step 9 โ Ethics, Confidentiality & Professional Responsibility
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State how you handled confidential information (redact names, use roles).
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Show awareness of power dynamics and any legal/organizational policies you followed.
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If you recommended removing/disciplining staff, explain due process used and ethical rationale.
Why: Demonstrates professional judgment and protects stakeholders.
Step 10 โ Final Checklist before Submission
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Each discussion question answered fully and directly.
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Every action uses the Action Template and includes a justification.
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Facts from the case are cited to support claims.
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Tone matches audience.
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APA citations added for any external sources.
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Proofread for grammar and clarity.
Remember! It’s just a sample. Our professional writers will write a unique paper for you.
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