ERIC Number: EJ798428
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1080-5699
EISSN: N/A
Activity Systems and Conflict Resolution in an Online Professional Communication Course
Walker, Kristin
Business Communication Quarterly, v67 n2 p182-197 2004
Conflicts often arise in online professional communication class discussions as students discuss sensitive ethical issues relating to the workplace. When conflicts arise in an online class, the activity system of the class has to be kept in balance for the course to continue functioning effectively. Activity theory and distributed learning theory are useful for studying this process of conflict resolution and online communication. Several strategies can be used to facilitate conflict resolution in online courses, based on these theories: complimenting, generalizing, and agreeing. These normalizing strategies can improve conflict resolution in online professional communication courses as well as in various online communication contexts.
Descriptors: Learning Theories, Conflict Resolution, Ethics, Virtual Classrooms, Communication Research, Communication Strategies, Work Ethic, Activity Units, Computer Mediated Communication, Peer Relationship, Business Communication, Industrial Psychology
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A