Engaging Conflict: Supporting Power-Sharing Through Constructive Conflict Resolution

• NCJ Number: 248838
• Author(s): Angela L. Walden, Shabnam Javdani, Nicole E. Allen
• Date Published: September 2014
• Length: 15 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Award: Coordinating the Criminal Justice Response to Intimate Partner Violence: The Effectiveness of Councils in Producing Systems Change

Annotation

This study examined data collected from Family Violence Councils to investigate the relationship between members’ perceived decision-making power, defined as their perceived influence over the direction and agenda of the Council, and member characteristics, perceived levels of Council conflict, and conflict resolution strategies utilized by Councils.

Abstract

Ideally, collaborative work combines multiple stakeholders’ resources and efforts to achieve common goals. Within collaborative settings, people from a variety of backgrounds come together to address complex social issues that are beyond the scope of any single community sector. While shared power in decisionmaking has been established as an important feature of effective collaborative settings, our current understanding of members’ experiences of decision-making power within such settings is limited. Findings from the current study indicate that the utilization of “constructive” conflict resolution strategies by Councils may be a key factor to consider in effective facilitation of power sharing among members. (Publisher abstract modified)