The Kardia Group

Any group, community, or collective will at times experience conflict or crisis. The complexity of the academic department can create many of its own tensions, and these are overlaid on the usual sources of conflict (such as communication issues, identity conflicts, power imbalances, discrimination, competing priorities, and the like).

Consulting for departments in transition, conflict or crisis can involve a variety of methods including:

• consultations with those in leadership roles
• focus groups and other assessment strategies (with faculty by rank, with students, or with other relevant sub-groups)
• one-on-one conversations with members of the department
• retreat planning and facilitation
• written summaries and recommendations
• participation in an on-going series of meetings or discussions
• design of structural changes
• other strategies designed to fit the needs of the unit