Title: Negotiation as a Conflict Resolution Strategy in the Residents Conflict Resolution Committee at
City Central Police Station
Introduction
In the case study, a violent confrontation erupted between the communities in the central business
district on the main street in Joburg. The residents made serious allegations of illegal drug dealings
and peddling in the central business district by the shop owners. The confrontation became so
violent that the residents closed off the streets and began burning the shops and blockaded the
streets. The law enforcement agencies were called in to help stop the violence. The police had to
arrest those that were alleged causing public violence. However, the residents and shop owners
wanted a long term solution to stop the challenges affecting the residents and the shop owners. The
Community Police Forum (CPF) was called in to intervene in assisting in defusing the conflict. The
CPF was requested to identify, select and apply the conflict resolution strategies to urgently address
the problem.
In this essay, I will identify and apply negotiation as a conflict resolution strategy to resolve the
conflict and challenges facing the communities. I will first define negotiation and discuss its benefits
as a conflict resolution strategy. I will then apply negotiation to the case study, outlining the steps
involved in the negotiation process and the strategies that can be used to achieve a successful
outcome. Finally, I will discuss the limitations of negotiation and how these can be overcome.
Negotiation as a Conflict Resolution Strategy
Negotiation is a process by which two or more parties with different interests come together to
reach an agreement that is acceptable to all parties. It is a voluntary process that relies on the
parties' willingness to compromise and to reach a mutually beneficial outcome.
Negotiation has a number of benefits as a conflict resolution strategy. First, it is a flexible and
adaptable process that can be used to resolve a wide range of conflicts. Second, negotiation can help
to build relationships and trust between the parties involved. Third, negotiation can lead to creative
and innovative solutions that would not be possible through other conflict resolution methods.
Fourth, negotiation can be relatively quick and inexpensive.
Applying Negotiation to the Case Study
In the case study, the CPF could use negotiation to resolve the conflict between the residents and
the shop owners. The first step in the negotiation process would be to identify the interests of each
party. The residents are interested in reducing crime and drug dealing in the central business district.
The shop owners are interested in protecting their businesses and their livelihoods.
Once the interests of each party have been identified, the CPF could begin to develop proposals for a
mutually beneficial agreement. The CPF could propose that the residents and the shop owners work
together to create a community safety plan. The plan could include measures such as increased
police patrols, community policing initiatives, and drug education programs.
The CPF could also propose that the residents and the shop owners establish a mediation program.
The mediation program would provide a forum for the residents and the shop owners to discuss
their concerns and to work together to find solutions.
The CPF would need to be prepared to compromise in order to reach a successful outcome. The
residents may need to agree to reduce their demands for increased police presence in the central
City Central Police Station
Introduction
In the case study, a violent confrontation erupted between the communities in the central business
district on the main street in Joburg. The residents made serious allegations of illegal drug dealings
and peddling in the central business district by the shop owners. The confrontation became so
violent that the residents closed off the streets and began burning the shops and blockaded the
streets. The law enforcement agencies were called in to help stop the violence. The police had to
arrest those that were alleged causing public violence. However, the residents and shop owners
wanted a long term solution to stop the challenges affecting the residents and the shop owners. The
Community Police Forum (CPF) was called in to intervene in assisting in defusing the conflict. The
CPF was requested to identify, select and apply the conflict resolution strategies to urgently address
the problem.
In this essay, I will identify and apply negotiation as a conflict resolution strategy to resolve the
conflict and challenges facing the communities. I will first define negotiation and discuss its benefits
as a conflict resolution strategy. I will then apply negotiation to the case study, outlining the steps
involved in the negotiation process and the strategies that can be used to achieve a successful
outcome. Finally, I will discuss the limitations of negotiation and how these can be overcome.
Negotiation as a Conflict Resolution Strategy
Negotiation is a process by which two or more parties with different interests come together to
reach an agreement that is acceptable to all parties. It is a voluntary process that relies on the
parties' willingness to compromise and to reach a mutually beneficial outcome.
Negotiation has a number of benefits as a conflict resolution strategy. First, it is a flexible and
adaptable process that can be used to resolve a wide range of conflicts. Second, negotiation can help
to build relationships and trust between the parties involved. Third, negotiation can lead to creative
and innovative solutions that would not be possible through other conflict resolution methods.
Fourth, negotiation can be relatively quick and inexpensive.
Applying Negotiation to the Case Study
In the case study, the CPF could use negotiation to resolve the conflict between the residents and
the shop owners. The first step in the negotiation process would be to identify the interests of each
party. The residents are interested in reducing crime and drug dealing in the central business district.
The shop owners are interested in protecting their businesses and their livelihoods.
Once the interests of each party have been identified, the CPF could begin to develop proposals for a
mutually beneficial agreement. The CPF could propose that the residents and the shop owners work
together to create a community safety plan. The plan could include measures such as increased
police patrols, community policing initiatives, and drug education programs.
The CPF could also propose that the residents and the shop owners establish a mediation program.
The mediation program would provide a forum for the residents and the shop owners to discuss
their concerns and to work together to find solutions.
The CPF would need to be prepared to compromise in order to reach a successful outcome. The
residents may need to agree to reduce their demands for increased police presence in the central
