11/28/2016 OrganizationalBehaviorConflictManagement

ConflictManagement
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Conflictcanbedefinedasamentalstruggleresultingfromincompatibleoropposingneeds,drives,wishes,andexternalorinternaldemands.
Wheretherearepeople,thereisconflict.

Theyareusuallytakeninanegativeassociation.However,thisisinaccurateasconflictsarenecessaryforhealthyrelationships.Italldepends
ontheapproachweusetoresolvetheconflict.

ClassificationofConflict
Whenwethinkofthedifferenttypesofconflict,wemightinstantlythinkoftheonesreferredtoinliterature,especiallyinfiction.Theycanbe
appliedtoreallife,ofcourse.However,incontemporarytimes,typesofconflictwhichareeasilyidentifiableareclassifiedintofourdifferent
types

Intrapersonal

Intragroup

Interpersonal

Intergroup

IntrapersonalConflict
Intrapersonal conflict takes place within an individual. The person experiences it in his own mind. Thus, it is a type of conflict that is
psychologicalinvolvingtheindividualsthoughts,values,principlesandemotions.Intrapersonalconflictmaycomeindifferentforms,fromthe
simplemundaneoneslikedecidingwhetherornottogoveganforlunchtoonesthatcanaffectmajordecisionssuchaschoosingacareer
path.

However,thistypeofconflictcanbequitedifficulttohandle,ifyoufindithardtodecipheryourinnerstruggles.Itresultsinrestlessnessand
uneasiness,orcanevencausedepression.Onsuchoccasions,itisadvisedtoseekawaytoletgooftheanxietybycommunicatingwith
otherpeople.Eventually,whenthepersonfindshimself/herselfoutofthesituation,he/shecanbecomemoreempoweredasaperson.Thus,
theexperienceinvokesapositivechangewhichhelpsinpersonalgrowth.

IntragroupConflict
Intragroup conflict occurs among individuals within a team. The incompatibilities and misunderstandings between team members leads to
intragroupconflict.Itstartsfrominterpersonaldisagreementsliketeammembershavedifferentpersonalitieswhichmayleadtotensionor
differencesinviewsandideas.Sayforexample,duringapresentation,membersoftheteammightfindthenotionspresentedbytheone
presidingtobeerroneousduetotheirdifferencesinopinion.

Withinateam,conflictcanbehelpfulincomingupwithdecisions,whichwilleventuallyallowthemtoachievetheirobjectivesasateam.But,
ifthedegreeofconflictdisruptsharmonyamongthemembers,thensomeseriousguidancefromadifferentpartywillbeneededforittobe
settled.

InterpersonalConflict
Interpersonalconflictmeansaconflictbetweentwoindividuals.Basically,thisoccursbecauseofsomedifferencesinpeople.Wehavevaried
personalities which usually lead to incompatible choices and opinions. So, it is a natural occurrence which can eventually help in personal
growthordevelopingourrelationshipswithothers.

In addition, adjustments are necessary for managing this type of conflict. However, when interpersonal conflict becomes too destructive,
callinginamediatorhelpssoastohavetheissueresolved.

IntergroupConflict
Intergroup conflict occurs when a misunderstanding arises among different teams within an organization. For example, the marketing
departmentofanorganizationcancomeinconflictwiththecustomersupportdepartment.Thisisbecauseofthevariedsetsofgoalsand
interests of these different groups. In addition to this, competition also contributes to intergroup conflict. There are other factors which
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increasethistypeofconflict.Someofthesefactorsmayincludearivalryinresourcesortheboundariessetbyagrouptootherswhichforms
theirownidentityasateam.

Conflictshouldnotalwaysbeperceivedasaproblemratherattimesitisachanceforgrowthandcanbeaneffectivemeansofopeningup
amonggroupsorindividuals.However,whenconflictbeginstosuppressordisruptproductivityandgiveswaytomoreconflicts,thenconflict
managementiswhatisneededforproblemresolution.

ConflictResolution
Conflictresolutionisamethodbywhichtwoormorepartiesfindapeacefulsolutiontoadisagreementamongthem.Thedisagreementcan
be personal, financial, political, or emotional. When a disagreement arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the
disagreement.Weallknowthatwhenpeoplegatherforadiscussion,itisnotnecessarythatwhatonethinksisrighttheotherthinksthe
sameway,thisdifferenceinthinkingormentalityleadstoconflict.

"Imdoingmybestatworkandyouexpectmetodomore!Whydontyouasktheotherteammembers?"Thisisthestartofaconflict!Let
usknowaboutsomeoftheconflictmanagementtechniques.

ConflictManagementTechniques
Wegetintoaconflictwhenthepersonoppositetoushasadifferentmindset.Itisverycommoninaworkplacetogetintodifferencesof
opinion.Sometimesthereisaconflictbetweentwoormoreemployees,sometimesemployeeshaveaconflictwiththeirmanagersandsoon.
Nowthequestionis,howcanwemanagedisagreementsinwaysthatbuildpersonalandcollegialrelationships?

Here are five strategies from conflict management theory for managing stressful situations. None of them is a "onesizefitsall" answer.
Whichoneisthebestinagivensituationdependsonvarietyoffactors,includinganappraisalofthelevelsofconflict.

Collaboratingwin/win

Compromisingwinsome/losesome

Accommodatinglose/win

Competingwin/lose

Avoidingnowinners/nolosers

Collaborating
Thistechniquefollowstherule"Iwin,youwin".Collaboratingmeansworkingtogetherbyintegratingideassetoutbymultiplepeople.The
objectivehereistofindacreativesolutionacceptabletoeveryone.Itcallsforasignificanttimecommitmentbutisnotappropriateforall
conflicts.

Thistechniqueisusedinsituationswhere

Thereisahighleveloftrust

Wedon'twanttotakecompleteresponsibility

Wewantotherstoalsohave"ownership"ofsolutions

Peopleinvolvedarewillingtochangetheirthinking

Weneedtoworkthroughanimosityandhardfeelings

However,thisprocesstakesalotoftimeandenergyandsomemaytakeadvantageofotherpeople'strustandopenness.

ExampleAbusinessmanshouldworkcollaborativelywiththemanagertoestablishpolicies,butcollaborativedecisionmakingregarding
officesupplieswastestimebetterspentonotheractivities.

Compromising
This technique follows the rule "You bend, I bend". Compromising means adjusting with each others opinions and ideas, and thinking of a
solution where some points of both the parties can be entertained. Similarly, both the parties need to give up on some of their ideas and
shouldagreewiththeother.

Thistechniquecanbeusedinsituationswhere

Peopleofequallevelsareequallycommittedtogoals

Timecanbesavedbyreachingintermediatesettlementsonindividualpartsofcomplexmatters

Goalsaremoderatelyimportant

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Importantvaluesandlongtermobjectivescanbederailedusingthistechnique.Thisprocessmaynotworkifinitialdemandsarehighand
mainlyifthere'snocommitmenttohonorthecompromisesolutions.

ExampleTwofriendshadafightandtheydecidetocompromisewitheachotherthroughmutualunderstanding.

Accommodating
Thistechniquefollowstherule"Ilose,youwin".Accommodatingmeansgivingupofideasandthoughtssothattheotherpartywinsandthe
conflictends.Thistechniquecanbeusedwhen

Anissueisnotthatimportanttousasitistotheotherperson

Werealizewearewrong

Wearewillingtoletotherslearnbymistake

Weknowwecannotwin

Itisnottherighttimeandwewouldprefertosimplybuildcreditforthefuture

Harmonyisextremelyimportant

Whatthepartieshaveincommonisagooddealmoreimportantthantheirdifferences

However,usingthistechnique,one'sownideasdon'tgetattentionandcredibility,andinfluencecanbelost.

ExampleWhenwefightwithsomeonewelovewechoosetoletthemwin.

Competing
Thistechniquefollowstherule"Iwin,youlose".Competingmeanswhenthereisadisputeapersonoragroupisnotwillingtocollaborateor
adjustbutitsimplywantstheoppositepartytolose.Thistechniquecanbeusedwhen

Weknowyouareright.

Timeisshortandaquickdecisionistobemade.

Astrongpersonalityistryingtosteamrollusandwedon'twanttobetakenadvantageof.

Weneedtostandupforourrights.

Thistechniquecanfurtherescalateconflictorlosersmayretaliate.

ExampleWheninadebatethepartywithmorefactswins.

Avoiding
This technique follows the rule "No winners, no losers". Avoiding means the ideas suggested by both the parties are rejected and a third
personisinvolvedwhotakesadecisionwithoutfavoringanyoftheparties.Thistechniquecanbeusedwhen

Theconflictissmallandrelationshipsareatstake

Wearecountingtotentocooloff

Moreimportantissuesarepressingandwefeelwedon'thavetimetodealwiththisparticularone

Wehavenopowerandweseenochanceofgettingourconcernsmet

Wearetooemotionallyinvolvedandothersarounduscansolvetheconflictmoresuccessfully

Usingthistechniquemayleadtopostponingtheconflict,thatmaymakemattersworse.

ExampleRahulandRohithadafight,theirmothercameandpunishedbothofthem.

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