Audience

Employees, managers, students, members of a community

Goal of the Exercise

To understand the implications of conflict scenarios while developing an understanding of how to approach conflicts in work, school, or other institutional settings.

Key Learning Objectives

• Identify common problems that emerge in group situations and critique the motivations, intentions, and of stakeholders involved in conflicts.

• Demonstrate empathy, active listening, and the ability to identify the multifaceted implications of everyday problems and conflicts in group settings.

Required Materials

• Pens
• Index cards

Total Time

90 minutes

Preparation for Role-Playing

• On each index card, write out a scenario that could manifest in school, the office, or another institution.

• Create small groups to play the game.

Role-Playing Session 1

• Each member of the group receives one card outlining a particular scenario.

• Each participant reads the scenario out loud and takes two minutes to describe and assess the scenario.

• Each participant assumes the role of a stakeholder in a conflict.

• Each player writes down the thoughts, sentiments, or emotions that the stakeholder could experience in a conflict.

Transition to next phase

Small Group Discussion

Over the span of 20 minutes, discuss why each character behaves in a certain way, the potential outcomes, and what can be done to diffuse the situation.

Transition to next phase

Role-Playing Session 2 (Repeat Session 1)

• After the first role-play, each participant takes on a new role.

• Each group member discusses the conflict, scenario, and motivations of each character.

• Each participant assumes the role of a stakeholder in a conflict.

• Each player writes down the thoughts, sentiments, or emotions that the stakeholder could experience in a conflict.

End role playing – transition to next phase 

Group Reflection

Each small group spends 10 minutes reflecting on each conflict, discussing the broader implications of the situations, and developing interventions to diffuse each of the conflicts.

Transition to next phase

Small Group Presentations

Each group takes 10 minutes to present the conflicts that they discussed, the perspectives of each group member, and what they learned about conflict management in different situations.

Debrief

• Bring the groups together, assess the challenges associated with conflict in group situations, and identify takeaways that reflect the larger exercise.

• Identify what steps and interventions can be designed to address these controversies in group settings.