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Videos

Conflict Management

This video takes a position that conflict is normal -- that if there isn't any conflict, then something is wrong -- albeit below the surface. The video provides advice on how to deal with this potentially volatile workplace situation.  It contains nine strategic styles for handling conflict in the workplace.

Which one to use? It depends on the situation. In one instance, it might make sense to use a domination style. In another, it could be collaboration. Bargaining is another approach to dealing with conflict. A number of authorities on conflict provide additional insight.

 

Innovative Project Teams

This program takes viewers behind-the-scenes of high-performance project teams at three organizations. Jon Katzenbach and Douglas Smith researched teams in more than 30 companies and provide a commentary on the case studies.

Viewers see how Duke Power Co. achieves success through a project team. Duke Power linemen would occasionally fall from high towers. A select project team drawn from different groups of linemen was charged with finding ways to protect linemen against accidental falls. After a few months, they finished their work and prepared presentations in which their recommendations were approved and implemented. The project was so successful that instead of returning to their regular jobs, the team was assigned to teach the other linemen and new employees.

 

The Respectful Workplace

This three-part series (each 25 minutes) is about the verbal assaults happening between people in the course of everyday workplace operations -- those disrespectful, intimidating, harassing remarks that cut down morale and productivity, and weaken the organization's image.

Actors with diverse cultural backgrounds present real-life, conflict-loaded dramas that occur in the workplace every day. Several experts comment on how they would turn these verbally violent experiences into productive relationships between employees, management and customers. Viewers also learn what to do in the face of potential physical violence.

Supervisory and human resource personnel would benefit from viewing these videos, as would any employee learning how to deal with his or her internal or external customer.

 

The View From the Top: An Obsession With Quality

Hedrick Smith interviews George M.C. Fisher, CEO of Eastman Kodak and formerly CEO of Motorola. In this 35-minute video, Fisher explains how Motorola's single-minded pursuit of quality has helped the U.S. electronics firm achieve nearly zero-defect production while assuming a position of world leadership in high-technology manufacturing.

Fisher views the government as an important ally in the global marketplace. He cites the role of the U.S. government during Motorola's pursuit of the cellular telephone business in Japan. He favors diversity of thought, employee empowerment and increased flexibility as ways to head off stagnation, an ever-present fear in fast-growing companies.


The View From the Top is a 10-video collection. Each, like the interview with George Fisher, is a stand-alone production. The other titles are also available at $149 each (or $1,349 for all 10).