Affiliated Institution
Debbs is a friend to both conflicting parties and has had a longer relationship with both parties than King,. This means the Debbs is in a better position to present the resolution strategy for the problem. It also implies that Debbs would have an easier time making the two parties understand the situation and accept to resolve the conflict. However, using Debbs would bring different problems to King. First, Debbs is black, and so is King. Dula would be the only white person in the conflict and the resolution strategy. Meaning, as much as Debbs is in a better position to negotiate a solution, her full involvement would bring a racial problem. Therefore, King should limit Debbs’ involvement to just explaining the matter to both parties but not in the resolution strategy. In case King decides to involve Debbs fully, then it would be only reasonable to include one or two white administrators as well. This would show equality in the negotiation.
King should address the parties separately first before getting them in one room for negotiation. This is because the school had a known behavior of not talking freely in groups but opening up separately,. Therefore, in order to understand the problem fully, King should first get to the root of the problem by addressing them separately. Afterwards, he would bring them to the table and present to them his strategy for the resolution. King should address Dula first because she had planned to take action that would hurt the school reputation. Talking to her first would help calm things before the negotiation to address unnecessary drastic measures.
Finally, King should press both to apologize for the mistakes they did at the time and in the earlier conflict. Dula should apologize for storming into Carver’s house before consulting him. Carver should apologize for the way he handled the issue and his inability to control his anger. In addition, Carver should apologize for threatening Dula,. If they both refuse to apologize, as the principle, Dula could opt to suspend them or take any other disciplinary action that he seemed relevant because they had both violated the professional conduct ethics.
References
Havard Business School. (1983). Robert F. Kennedy High School.
