Assessments 101 by Glenn Stevenson:TKI
Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI)
Over the last information-packed year, an article on assessments has appeared each month in Insights. I thank the devoted readers who have followed this series, as I bring it to completion this month. We finish with the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), which businesses, educators, and organizational development professionals have used for over 30 years to assess and handle conflict in organizations.
This is the twelfth article in the Insights series on assessments. For an index of assessments previously reviewed, see the end of this article.
Assessment: Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI)
Description: The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument assesses how people deal with conflict and how to get collaboration. The TKI is an assessment tool for understanding how different conflict-handling modes, or styles, affect interpersonal and group dynamics. It also promotes learning how to select the most appropriate style for a given situation.
The TKI model states that there are two dimensions along which a person behaves in conflicted situations: assertiveness (representing one’s own interests) and cooperativeness (considering the other person’s interests). Using these two dimensions, the TKI defines five conflict-handling styles:
Competing – assertive and uncooperative
Collaborating – assertive and cooperative
Compromising – intermediate in both assertiveness and cooperativeness
Avoiding – unassertive and uncooperative
Accommodating – unassertive and cooperative
The TKI consists of 30 statement pairs from which participants select a response. Scoring the instrument results in a rank ordering of a person’s five conflict-handling styles.
The TKI offers a situational approach to conflict resolution, demonstrating how and when to use the five conflict-handling styles effectively. Its purpose is to initiate safe and productive dialogue to resolve conflict.
Certification: Certification is not required. However, written materials on conflict resolution based on the TKI model are available on-line at www.cpp.com.
Cost of Training/Certification:
There are no training or certification costs, except the cost of written materials that a coach chooses to buy from www.cpp.com.
Cost of Instrument:
Self-scorable format: $13.50 each or $127.50 for a package of ten
On-line administration through the cpp-affiliated website www.SkillsOne.com: $300 set-up fee (covers first year) + $195 annual renewal fee + $13.50 each assessment (Note: The set-up and annual renewal fees allow the coach to administer all assessments available on the SkillsOne website that the coach is qualified to administer.)
Assessments Previously Reviewed in Insights:
| October 2007: | Myers-Briggs Type Indicator | click here for article |
| November 2007: | DiSC | click here for article |
| December 2007: | Keirsey Temperament Sorter-II | click here for article |
| January 2008: | Enneagram | click here for article |
| February 2008: | The Birkman Method | click here for article |
| March 2008 | Personal Style Indicator | click here for article |
| April 2008 | PeopleMap | click here for article |
| May 2008 | Real Colors® | click here for article |
| June 2008 | MAPP | click here for article |
| July 2008 | OSI Polaris 360 | click here for article |
| August 2008 | Cerny Smith Adjustment Index | click here for article |
Assessments to Be Reviewed in Future Issues:
Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument.
Glenn Stevenson. Ph.D., is a life coach and career transition coach who specializes in self-confidence, relationships coaching, and helping people find the work that they love. He specializes in people’s sense of self and their finding satisfaction in who they are and what they do. He may be contacted at glenn@myselfsense.com, 714-468-9963, www.myselfsense.com
