This document provides instructions for an assignment analyzing team dynamics and conflict management in two films depicting crisis situations at sea - The Perfect Storm and The Finest Hours. Students are asked to write a 3000-word essay addressing: the nature of the crisis in each film, the teams involved and their roles, examples of conflict and team behaviors, which teams demonstrated positive behaviors and had successful outcomes, which teams failed at positive conflict management and their outcomes, lessons learned about teamwork and conflict management, and how the student can improve as a team member and help engineering design teams. Students are encouraged to watch and discuss the films with others to gain different perspectives.

1. A good response to others is not something like "I agree."
Please find something that you can analyze, add to, critique,
explain, disagree with, or something. It should be a few cogent
sentences. It should contain something that shows your
knowledge of the subject, as well as additional materials you
might bring from the web and elsewhere.
You should create substantial responses to your peers. Think of
this as your opportunity to teach. Create substantial responses
which expand on a point and present information on the topic.
Your responses should demonstrate your critical thinking on the
topic.
Respond to the following discussions (6X). Write how you
would respond to their discussions with approximately 100
words or more each. Be thoughtful and insightful and it must
demonstrate critical thinking and analysis.
How does scientific inquiry try to avoid the common pitfalls
that produce error in nonscientific inquiry?
1.There are common pitfall errors involved when using
nonscientific inquires because nonscientific inquiries do not
follow the scientific method. The scientific method is used as a
model of science. The scientific method is what scientists use to
do research. The scientific method involves, "...three main
elements in the traditional model of science, typically presented
in the order in which they are implemented: theory,
operationalization, and observation" (Babbie.) A theory is
formed from scientists. This theory then goes into the
operationalization stage. During the operationalization stage,
the variables involved in the theory are specified. After
operationalization comes the observation stage. During the
observation stage, the theory is tested in real life. The
observations are measured and then turned into a hypothesis
that can be tested. With nonscientific inquiry, errors such as
overgeneralization, inaccurate observations, and illogical

2. reasoning may happen. Using scientific inquiry, and the
scientific method, reduces these errors. Using scientific inquiry
is needed to make any kind of scientific theory.
2. Nonscientific inquiry is basically the action of observation. It
is done countless times a day by everyone whether they realize
it or not. It is similar to the idea of assumptions without the
backing of any scientific support. The book give the example of
knowing is going to rain when the trick knee starts acting up. Is
this real or a perceived notion that seems to coincide for an
individual enough for them to believe it is true.
The scientific inquiry differs because it takes guess work out of
the equation. It utilizes the processes of logic and observation
as well as data collection and analysis (Babbie,2017).Utilizing
these scientific tools to establish an outcome or understanding
provides a more realistic and accurate account of what is being
seen and done.
Scientific inquiry Is important in the efforts of avoiding bias
and/or falsification of data as well as oversimplification or
possible dishonesty whether intentional or otherwise. It is used
to establish an idea of how things really are without any placed
ideas or expectations as to what they might be.
3. Does empirical evidence have to be necessary to fit with the
scientific model? Any thoughts anyone?
Why is inductive reasoning utilized in social science? How
does it differ from deductive reasoning?
4. Inductive reasoning is utilized in social science because
social science is based on observations. Inductive reasoning
uses observations, making it the best logical model when
dealing with social science(s). Inductive and deductive
reasoning are both used as logical models. While both are used
as logical models, they are quite different. Inductive reasoning
is based on observations. On the other hand, deductive
reasoning is based on principles. Deduction, "moves from...a
pattern that might be logically or theoretically expected
to...observations that test whether the expected pattern actually
occurs" (Babbie.) Deductive reasoning is used more in scientific

3. fields rather than social sciences. With scientific fields,
inductive reasoning can't be used do to the logical model being
based on observations. With science, principles are used most
commonly. Thus making deductive reasoning more fitting.
5. According to (Babbie, 2017), “inductive reasoning is the
logical model in which general principals are developed from
specific observations”. With this type of reasoning, researchers
begin with observed data and utilize it to develop broad
generalizations that explain specific observations. For example,
you are pulling coins from a bag. The first 3 coins that you pull
are nickels. Therefore you come to the assumption that all the
coins in the bag are nickels. Inductive reasoning has its place in
social science. Scientists use this approach to come up with
hypotheses and theories.
“Deductive reasoning is supported by specific expectations that
derive on the basis of general principals” (Babbie, 2017). With
deductive reasoning, researchers move from their hypotheses
and theories to observations that test whether their expectations
are correct. (Bradford, 2017) explains deductive reasoning, as a
process that starts out with a general statement, or hypothesis,
and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical
conclusion. Both inductive and deductive reasoning stimulate
social science.
6. For the class, which method is used in quantitative research
and which in qualitative? Any thoughts anyone?
1
CENE 286: Conflict and Teaming Assignment

4. Teams under duress:
The roles of leadership, communication, team work in conflict
management
Let’s see how much of this applies to two separate team
situations where the team is faced with serious crisis.
Both situations are nautical in nature.
Watch the following two movies:
The Perfect Storm and The Finest Hours, both Hollywood
productions of true events regarding seafaring
teams in crisis situations. In these films, the characters have to
depend on each other, as teams, for their
survival. Despite the similarity of the crisis, there are two very
different outcomes to each story. This can be
ascribed in large part to the success of the team work of each
crew.
Individually, write a short essay (3000 words, max) that
addresses the following:
1.) The nature of the crisis.
2.) The teams (keep an open eye, there are more than one in
each story) and who are in critical roles, such
as leadership or critical functions/activity (like a helmsman or
engine room foreman).

5. 3.) Address the conflict and style being displayed by the various
individual team members in each story.
4.) Which teams rallied around positive behaviors? Give
specific examples (which character, at which
juncture in the story). To what end? How did the story end?
5.) Which teams failed to engage positive in positive teaming
and conflict management styles? Give
specific examples. How did their experience end?
6.) What lesson(s) did you learn about yourself and your
teamwork and conflict management style as a team
member from having watched these films and considered these
essay questions. Be specific and provide
examples.
7.) What can/could you do to improve yourself as a team
member?
8.) What are you now (better??) prepared to do to help your
engineering design teams and individual design
team members in the future?
Your deliverable for this assignment is an individual (hardcopy)
essay, appropriately covered...
Conversely, you are highly encouraged to watch these films
with colleagues from this class other college aged
students, or perhaps at home with your family a holiday break.

6. Discuss with them the essay questions that have
been posed. Let the varied perspectives of the individuals who
watch and discussed the shows with you
demonstrate how dramatically different people can see and
would react to the exact same situation. Let this
discussion inform your opinions and answers in your essay.