Saturday | 6 September, 2008
CIO
Managing By Agreement
Conflict costs companies big time, says the author of The Book of Agreement and Getting to Resolution: Turning Conflict Into Collaboration. In 1994 alone some 18 million cases filed in US courts cost that nation a hefty $US300 billion
Sue Bushell 07 November, 2005 16:13:38

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SIDEBAR: Levine's 10 Elements

Fostering better partnerships through joint visions

1. INTENT AND VISION. The big picture of what you intend to accomplish together must be specified. The first step of any effective collaboration is sharing a big picture of what you are doing together. This provides a framework to hang the details on. A joint enterprise works best when everyone is working toward the same specific goals. The clearer the detail of desired outcomes, the more likely you will attain them as visualized.

2. ROLES. Outline the duties, responsibilities and commitment required of everyone involved.

3. PROMISES. The agreement contains clear promises so everyone knows who will do what. When commitments to take action are specific, you can determine if the actions are sufficient to obtain the desired results and what actions are missing.

4. TIME AND VALUE. All promises must have specific time deadlines for task completion. These are the "by whens": by when will you do this, and by when will you do that. In addition, the time period the agreement will be in force must be specified.

5. VALUE OF EXCHANGE. This specifies who gets what for what. Is the exchange satisfactory? Is it fair? Does it provide adequate incentive? This must be clearly understood, and everyone must be satisfied or someone will sabotage the transaction.

6. MEASUREMENTS OF SATISFACTION. The evidence that everyone has achieved his or her objectives must be clear, direct, and measurable so there can be no disagreement. This element is critical because it eliminates conflict about the ultimate question: Did you accomplish what you set out to do?

7. CONCERNS AND FEARS. Express unspoken difficulties and address the fear behind them. This deepens understanding of what you are taking on, and the partnership you are creating with yourself.

8. RENEGOTIATION. Circumstances change, and you must put in place a mechanism to address the new conditions. Being realistic about this at the beginning enables the relationship to evolve and prosper. It is imperative to provide everyone with a way out - an exit strategy everyone can follow with dignity. Anyone who feels imprisoned in a transaction, partnership, or relationship will not make his or her maximum contribution to the enterprise.

9. CONSEQUENCES. Although you may not want to police the agreement, it is important to agree on consequences for anyone who breaks a promise.

10. CONFLICT RESOLUTION. Acknowledge that conflicts and disagreements arise as a matter of course as people work together. If you know that and establish the attitude of resolution and a process that leads to a new agreement, resolving conflicts will be easier.

When you have reflected on one to 10, ask whether you "trust" moving forward. Do not move into action unless and until you can say "yes", and commit to embrace the future as an opportunity to be enjoyed.

SIDEBAR: Making the Most of Conflict

By Kenneth Cloke and Joan Goldsmith

As CIOs implement change in their organizations, conflicts are bound to arise. Changing functions, roles and business partnerships can all lead to petty personal disputes, paralyzing impasses and large-scale systemic dysfunctions. These conflicts can be destructive organizationally as well as interpersonally if they are not viewed as opportunities for improving the change agenda and confronting issues that have the potential for dramatic disjuncture. On the other hand, when CIOs embrace and learn from the conflicts they encounter, their organizations can be revitalized and achieve remarkable transformations.

Breaking the downward spiral of unresolved organizational conflicts requires leadership and courage. Indeed, the very idea that conflict can be enriching may seem illogical or confusing because experience has taught most of us the opposite. Nevertheless, the possibility of profound organizational transformation is present in every conflict we encounter. When leaders shift the way they approach organizational conflicts, they think differently about their organizations, themselves and the people with whom they are in conflict. They give up worrying about what it will cost them to resolve their disputes and discover the cost of not resolving them.

Market Place
 

2008 CIO Summit

19th August, 2008 Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney Developed in partnership with CIO Magazine, IDC, INTEP and the CIO Executive Council.

The world of the CIO is extremely complex and diverse. Multiple priorities demand attention and decisions are needed instantly. Individual teams need to be driven towards common goals, and businesses strive to become more mobile, agile and responsive. For CIOs, the challenge never ends.

Every year the CIO Summit identifies what is top of mind for CIOs across Australia and New Zealand, and offers insight for CIO benchmarking and vendor strategic planning alike.

Recent IDC research shows that over 59% of CIO's believe that 'to achieve their business strategies, technology should be used more aggressively than today.'

Join us on August 19th to discover how this is possible with the latest technologies including Virtualisation, Web 2.0, IP Surveillance and Software as a Service (Saas).

Click here for registration.

Click here for more information.

Please email Denyse_Robertson@idg.com.au for further information.

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