"Personnel not pursuing their goals, and trying to satisfy goals of others" is an example of which type of conflict resolution?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2016

Explanation

Accommodation is a conflict resolution style characterized by prioritizing the needs and goals of others over one's own.
This style demonstrates low assertiveness (not pursuing one's own goals) and high cooperativeness (satisfying others' goals).
It is often described as a 'lose-win' situation, where one party gives in to maintain peace or preserve a relationship, as confirmed by nursing management literature.

Option A: Avoidance is incorrect because it involves withdrawing from the conflict entirely, satisfying neither one's own goals nor the goals of others. It is both unassertive and uncooperative.
Option C: Competition is the opposite of accommodation. It is a highly assertive and uncooperative style where an individual pursues their own goals at the expense of others.
Option D: Compromise involves finding a middle ground where both parties give up something to reach an agreement. It is moderately assertive and moderately cooperative, not a one-sided satisfaction of goals.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Conflict Resolution Styles (Thomas-Kilmann Model) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurse managers must recognize these styles to effectively manage team disputes, foster a healthy work environment, and prevent negative impacts on patient care.
A nurse who consistently uses the accommodation style may be at high risk for burnout, stress, and feeling undervalued, which can lead to decreased job satisfaction and higher turnover rates.
What if the personnel were assertive in pursuing their own goals while also trying to satisfy the goals of others? In that case, the conflict style would be Collaboration, which is considered the most effective 'win-win' approach.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the keywords in the question's definition: 'not pursuing their goals' indicates low assertiveness.
Next, identify the second part of the definition: 'trying to satisfy goals of others' indicates high cooperativeness.
Recall the five main conflict resolution styles and their corresponding levels of assertiveness and cooperativeness.
Match the identified behavior (low assertiveness, high cooperativeness) to its corresponding style, which is Accommodation.
Briefly consider the other options to confirm they do not fit the description. For example, Competition is high assertiveness/low cooperativeness, and Avoidance is low assertiveness/low cooperativeness.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Conflict Resolution Styles (Thomas-Kilmann Model)
Stem keywords: personnel, not pursuing their goals, satisfy goals of others, conflict resolution
Lead-in keywords: is an example of

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