Virtually everyone involved with forensics has, at one time or another, seen or heard references to debate teams or squads as "groups." Many questions concerning the label "group," however, exist. A brief examination of definitions of the term group by scholars in the field of small group communication confirms that T. M.…

This paper offers a process for organizational decision making that will assist educators involved in school restructuring. The first part, which focuses on the nature of theory and the relationship of theory to practice, concludes that current organizational theory on decision making is inadequate. The next section outlines four stages of a…

Conflict-mitigation is a concept and methodology that emphasizes a broad societal understanding of conflicts obtained mainly through in-depth interviewing with many and varied actors. Developed through the work by the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research (TFF), the conflict-mitigation process is intended to serve a number of…

Reported are results from two runs of the simulation "Bureaucratic Bargaining," developed to help students understand the inherent tension between roles and belief systems in American foreign policy decision making. To determine their belief systems, 165 students enrolled in an introductory international relations course were tested with…

This study examines how homosexual men and women deal with interpersonal conflict. Subjects (N=122) were asked to describe a conflict involving homosexuality and to rate the civil liberties and psychological issues involved. Results are discussed in terms of choices of issues for resolving conflict through negotiation. Implications for counseling…

Suggests introducing values clarification into the classroom as a way to help students learn to make value judgements on contemporary issues. (BR)

The introductory speech communication course can benefit from the use of simulation exercises. In one exercise, students negotiate on behalf of the imaginary governments of Franistan and Germania. Participants are furnished with statistical data and informed that the two countries are mutually dependent, that they share a border, and that the city…

An analysis of the problem solving process reveals at least three options: (1) finding the cause, (2) solving the problem, and (3) anticipating potential problems. These methods may be illustrated by examining "Oedipus Tyrannus," a play in which a king attempts to deal with a problem that appears to be beyond his ability to solve, and…

Because negotiation channels creative energy and uses student ideas for the benefit of the school, it can create an environment more conducive to teaching and learning than the repressive environments that cause petty irritations, repeated disruptions, violence, and vandalism. (Author/IRT)

The conflict between the interests of commercial outfitters and private boaters in the use of whitewater rivers is examined. A discussion is presented on the literature on scarcity, allocation, and conflict among groups. These concepts are applied to the allocation of public resources on whitewater rivers. The conflicting interest groups are…

Consideration is given to making the discussion of issues provided by the American Issues Forum most meaningful for students and applicable to their decision making about issues outside of the classroom. The Bicentennial and the American Issues Forum provide an excellent opportunity to help students develop a better understanding of our society's…

Many educational decisions are made on issues over which conflict occurs because of value differences among the groups involved. The decision-making model proposed here is a political or conflict model. It defines an organization as stable patterns of interactions between coalitions of groups having a collective identity and pursuing interests and…

The "Advocacy" planning game is intended to include the public in decision-making in the schools, as well as to educate the participants about pertinent solutions to students' needs. This planning game is predicated on the assumption that resources for education are limited and that, therefore, there must be a mechanism for determining school…

Presents background information on creative and destructive conflict between and among nations, treaty negotiations, political decision making, environmental conflicts, and research and training in conflict resolution. Suggestions for individual and group involvement are presented. (DB)

Discusses challenges faced by practitioners working with CBI and suggests ways ADCIS could further its efforts in three areas: (1) defining significant educational and training problems, (2) finding creative and logically superior solutions to the selected problems, and (3) comparing the outcomes of alternative solutions in a valid and persuasive…