Managing Intercultural Conflict Effectively

In this volume, Ting-Toomey and Oetzel accomplish two objectives: to explain the culture-based situational conflict model, including the relationship among conflict, ethnicity, and culture; and, second, integrate theory and practice in the discussion of interpersonal conflict in culture, ethnic, and gender contexts. While the book is theoretically directed, it is also a down-to-earth practical book that contains ample examples, conflict dialogues, and critical incidents. Managing Intercultural Conflict Effectively helps to illustrate the complexity of intercultural conflict interactions and readers will gain a broad yet integrative perspective in assessing intercultural conflict situations. The book is a multidisciplinary text that draws from the research work of a variety of disciplines such as cross-cultural psychology, social psychology, sociology, marital and family studies, international management, and communication.

Stella Ting-Toomey (PhD, University of Washington) is a professor of human communication at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). She has published numerous books and over more than 100 articles/chapters on the topics of intercultural conflict competence and ethnic identity negotiation process. A recent book title is Understanding Intercultural Communication, Second Edition (with Leeva Chung; Oxford University Press). Her publications have also appeared in the International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Communication Monographs, Human Communication Research, and The International Journal of Conflict Management, among others. Dr. Ting-Toomey’s teaching passions include intercultural conflict theory and practice and intercultural communication training. She is the 2008 recipient of the 23-campus wide CSU Wang Family Excellence Award, and the 2007–2008 recipient of the CSU-Fullerton Outstanding Professor Award. She has lectured widely throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe on the theme of mindful intercultural conflict competence. John G. Oetzel (PhD, University of Iowa), is a professor in the Department of Management Communication in the Waikato Management School at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. He teaches courses in conflict, intercultural communication, health communication, and research methods. His research program centers on understanding and improving challenging communication among people with different group identities (particularly cultural identities). Dr. Oetzel uses quantitative survey methods and/or mixed-method designs to address three strands: (1) conflict in culturally diverse work groups and organizations, (2) communication in the health care delivery process, and (3) partnerships between community members and academics to address community health. He is co-author (with Stella Ting-Toomey) of Managing Intercultural Communication Effectively (2001, SAGE) and author of Intercultural Communication: A Layered Approach (2009, Pearson). He is also the author of more than 60 articles and book chapters.