Peer Review

Holistic Conflict Management

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Reviewed:: Apr 25, 2025 by Business

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Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

The open textbook Holistic Conflict Management , hosted by eCampusOntario Pressbooks, focuses on the principles and practices of effective communication and conflict resolution in personal, professional, and organizational contexts. Its subject matter includes foundational theories of interpersonal communication, strategies for managing disputes, and techniques for fostering collaboration, with an emphasis on empathy, active listening, and cultural sensitivity. Key features of the resource include interactive learning activities, case studies, self-assessment tools, and real-world scenarios designed to engage learners in practical application. Structured as an accessible, modular text, it supports both academic and professional audiences. Primarily used in higher education courses such as communication studies, business, or social work, it equips students with skills to navigate workplace conflicts, improve team dynamics, and strengthen personal relationships. Beyond the classroom, the resource serves as a guide for professionals in leadership, HR, or counseling roles seeking to enhance conflict resolution practices in diverse settings, promoting constructive dialogue and mutual understanding.

Type of Material:

Online Text

Recommended Uses:

In-Class Activities: Use role-playing exercises (based on textbook scenarios) to practice conflict resolution strategies and active listening in real time. Facilitate group discussions to analyze case studies or debate cultural influences on communication styles.

Homework/Individual Work: Assign self-assessment quizzes or reflection journals (using textbook tools) to evaluate personal communication habits and biases. Complete case study analyses individually to identify conflict root causes and propose solutions.

Team/Group Work: Collaborate on team-based projects to design conflict resolution plans for workplace or interpersonal scenarios from the text. Conduct peer feedback sessions to practice empathetic communication and refine negotiation skills.

Lecture Integration: Pair short lectures on foundational theories (e.g., nonverbal communication, mediation frameworks) with in-class application exercises. Use multimedia examples (videos, podcasts) referenced in the text to illustrate concepts before group activities.

Workshops or Labs: Run mediation simulations in small groups, using the textbook’s step-by-step conflict management frameworks. Host cultural sensitivity workshops where students adapt communication approaches to diverse contexts.

Blended/Flipped Learning: Assign modular readings as pre-work (e.g., chapters on active listening) followed by in-class skill-building activities. Use interactive online discussion boards (aligned with textbook themes) to debate conflict resolution ethics or share reflections.

Technical Requirements:

Mozilla/Firefox Version 134.0, Chrome, Safari

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Learning goals are provided for each lesson. For example, the first unit, Understanding and Recognizing Indigenous Conflict Management in the Workplace has the following goals:
recognize different forms of conflict at work
understand different approaches to conflict management at work
understand traditional Indigenous approaches to conflict management
identify common challenges faced by Indigenous employees and workplace conflict situations

Target Student Population:

The textbook is primarily designed for undergraduate or graduate students in fields requiring interpersonal and conflict management skills, such as communication studies, business administration, psychology, social work, education, and organizational leadership. It also caters to adult learners in professional development programs or continuing education courses for interpersonal or cultural conflicts, empathy, or collaborative problem-solving, improving personal relationships.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

No strict prerequisites, but familiarity with basic communication concepts (e.g., verbal/nonverbal cues) or introductory coursework in psychology/sociology can enhance understanding. For advanced applications (e.g., mediation frameworks), foundational knowledge of organizational behavior or team dynamics is helpful but not required. The textbook is designed to scaffold learning, making it accessible to novices while offering depth for those with prior exposure to communication or conflict-related topics. Instructors may tailor prerequisite expectations based on course level (introductory vs. advanced)

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The open textbook Holistic Conflict Management stands out for its interactive, real-world-focused design, blending role-playing exercises, multimedia resources, and self-assessment tools to engage learners actively.
Its practical scenarios and step-by-step frameworks bridge theory with actionable conflict resolution strategies applicable to personal, professional, and cross-cultural contexts, while its emphasis on cultural sensitivity and adaptability ensures relevance in diverse settings.
Structured as modular, flexible content, it supports varied teaching formats—from lectures to workshops—and balances research-backed theories with accessible language and examples.
Collaborative activities like peer feedback and team projects foster teamwork skills, and its open-access platform enhances accessibility, offering free digital and print options.
By aligning with professional standards in fields like HR and leadership, the resource equips learners with credible, career-ready skills in communication and conflict management, prioritizing inclusivity, self-reflection, and practical application.
Basic conflict and approaches to conflict are discussed before Indigenous elements are introduced.
Questions to enhance discussion are embedded in the course.
Navajo and Inuit conflict management are provided as examples.
References are provided.

Concerns:

While the textbook offers valuable, practical content, its qualities are affected by variable depth in theoretical coverage, reliance on instructor-led facilitation for activities.
There are limited built-in assessments (e.g., quizzes, rubrics), but they do not always work.
The content has been mostly designed to share cultural values across many different groups of Indigenous Peoples in Canada’ so this may not apply generally to other cultures.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The learning material’s effectiveness lies in its active, practice-driven approach, using role-plays, simulations, and real-world case studies to build conflict resolution and communication skills.
Step-by-step frameworks enable immediate application, while self-assessment tools foster self-awareness and growth.
Emphasis on cultural adaptability prepares students for diverse contexts, and collaborative activities (team projects, peer feedback) mirror real-life dynamics. Modular design allows scaffolded learning, progressing from basics to advanced strategies.
Multimedia resources cater to varied learning styles, and open-access availability ensures equitable reach.
By blending theory with actionable strategies, emotional intelligence development, and career-aligned competencies, the material equips students to navigate personal, professional, and cross-cultural challenges with confidence and empathy.
Examples are provided of “incidents”, and different topics are covered, such as stereotyping and bias, cultural misunderstandings, and so on.
At the end of the chapters or units in the table of contents, there is an opportunity to reflect on what was learned.
Conflict management case studies are provided.

Concerns:

The material’s variable depth in theoretical content may leave gaps for advanced learners, while overreliance on instructor facilitation (e.g., role-play guidance) risks inconsistent skill application without structured support.
Limited built-in assessments (quizzes, rubrics), especially when they don’t provide feedback, could hinder progress tracking, and outdated or culturally narrow examples might reduce relevance for diverse/global audiences.
The theory-practice imbalance may frustrate learners needing deeper conceptual grounding or granular strategies.
Without supplemental resources, self-learners might struggle to contextualize frameworks independently.
These issues, while manageable with instructor intervention, could impede autonomous or equity-focused learning experiences.
Workplace conflict for Indigenous employees (in the table of contents) gives an example of an incident between a member of the Blackfoot nation and a ‘white’ customer. It is unreasonable to assume that “white” describes a generic group of people when there are many different ethnic groups that could potentially exist in this category. This is an unbalanced or unequal approach that should be addressed. If it were equated such as white with Indigenous, that would be more appropriate instead of comparing a tribe member with a generic and unknown group of people.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The material’s modular design enables non-linear navigation, letting learners easily access targeted topics like mediation or cultural communication.
Multimedia integration (videos, diagrams) and multiple formats (digital, PDF, print) cater to diverse preferences and accessibility needs.
Interactive tools—self-assessments, role-play scripts, and checklists—promote active engagement, while customizable, open-access content allows instructors to adapt examples or pacing.
Responsive cross-platform compatibility ensures seamless use on mobile or desktop, and a searchable glossary aids terminology comprehension.
Real-world case studies and templates align with everyday challenges, enhancing practicality.
Combined with cost-free availability, these features prioritize flexibility, inclusivity, and immediate applicability for varied learning contexts.

Concerns:

The material’s dependence on instructor guidance for activities (e.g., role-plays) limits self-directed learners, while inconsistent multimedia formatting (e.g.,h5p) may hinder accessibility compliance.
Navigation challenges could arise if modules lack clear cross-references or hyperlinks, disrupting non-linear learning.
Outdated or broken external links risk rendering resources inaccessible. The open platform’s editing tools may require technical familiarity, complicating customization for novice instructors.
Mobile responsiveness gaps might affect interactive elements on smaller screens, and dense text sections without visual breaks could overwhelm learners.
While flexible, the modular design may fragment holistic understanding without intentional scaffolding, requiring user effort to bridge connections.
It would be helpful if the units in the module were labeled as either chapter or numbered, so it's easy to keep track of what’s been covered.
The user must always go back to the table of contents to move on to the next unit or chapter, which is somewhat inconvenient.

Other Issues and Comments:: The books is highly text based and limited graphics and figures are used.
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