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ONE Approaches to Managing and Resolving Conflict Conflict seems to be present in all human relationships and in all societies. From the beginning of recorded history, we have evidence of disputes among children, spouses, parents and children, neighbors, ethnic and racial groups, fellow workers, superiors and subordinates, organizations, communities, citizens and their government, and nations. Because of the pervasive presence of conflict and because of the physical, emotional, and resource costs that often result from disputes, people have al- ways sought to find ways of resolving their differences. The solutions they seek are those that allow them to satisfy their in- terests and minimize their costs. In most disputes, the people involved have a variety of means at their disposal to respond to or resolve their conflict. An examination of a sample dispute will illustrate the possible options. The Singson-Whittamore Dispute Singson and Whittamore are in conflict. It all started three years ago when Dr. Richard Singson, director of the Fair- view Medical Clinic, one of the few medical service providers in a small rural town, was seeking two physicians to fill open posi- tions on his staff. After several months of extensive and difficult recruiting, he hired two doctors, Andrew and Janelle Whitta- 1