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This chapter is from the book
TL;DR
This chapter provided a foundation for understanding conflict. It started with two assumptions:
- Design is, when oversimplified, a series of interconnected decisions.
- A decision comprises two parts: the method used to make the decision and the content of the decision itself.
With that understanding, the chapter elaborated on conflict:
- When people on the design team do not have a shared understanding of a design decision, they experience conflict.
- There are three things that can prevent a shared understanding: misconception, ego, and disinterest.
- Conflict is healthy when it moves people closer to achieving a shared understanding.
- Unhealthy conflict is conflict for its own sake, and is usually caused by someone acting defensively.
- There are five types of resolution—persuasion, iteration, perspective shift, deferred decision, and common ground—but none of these is better than another.
- The real criteria of a resolution are the same as those for a design decision: Does it yield good design? Does it move the project forward?
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