...Managing Conflict in the Workplace Professional Development, MBA 525 Managing Conflict in the Workplace Introduction Conflict is something we all have experienced or will experience sometime in our lives; one could say conflict is inevitable. Conflict can sometimes get out of hand and can cause havoc in a person’s work life and family life. Conflict is perceived incompatible differences that result in interference or opposition (Robbins, Coutler, 2011). Whether the differences are real or not is irrelevant (Robbins, Coutler, 2011). If people in a group perceive that differences exist, then there is conflict (Robbins, Coutler, 2011). Because of the environment we live in, the strategic alignment of organization’s expanding their workforce globally, the strategic business goals alignment of workplace diversity initiatives, and companies expanding more into work teams and workgroups; conflict in the workplace has become inevitable. There will always be differences in opinions among work groups; however; effectively managing conflict is the key to balancing conflict resolution in the workplace. Recognizing Conflict Being able to recognize the causes of conflict is an important part of preventing conflict (Pace, 2006). When conflict can be recognized a solution can be created to limit conflict in the workplace. There will be varies opinions in the workplace and work teams; however, when conflict...
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...Running head: MANAGING WORKPLACE CONFLICT Managing Workplace Conflict: A Look at Leadership Styles Abstract Leadership styles play a large part in managing workplace conflict. These styles can help or hinder the actual conflict. This paper will look at several different types of leadership styles and discuss how these styles can play a role in resolving workplace conflict. Is there one style that is better than the other? When trying to resolve workplace conflict there are three steps that a leader should implement to successfully resolve the conflict, these steps will be discussed. In order to understand how leadership styles can affect workplace conflict one must first know what conflict is. Conflict is strong disagreement between people, groups, etc., that results in often angry argument or a difference that prevents agreement: disagreement between ideas, feelings, etc. (Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary (10th ed.), 1993). Conflict is not always a bad thing; it can be healthy for an organization to have some conflict. The approach from a leader’s perspective can help or hinder the initial conflict. Conflict is a normal part of everyday life. Just like breathing, conflict is going to happen at some point in your day. Many companies have teams that work closely together and this can be a breeding ground for conflict. When you have groups of people working together you are going to have many different personalities that come into play. Shetach (2012)...
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...Managing Conflict in the Workplace By LaQuita Watson Current Issues in Human Resources Dr. Overby April 9, 2008 Conflict management refers to the long-term management of intractable conflicts. It is the label for the variety of ways by which people handle grievances — standing up for what they consider to be right and against what they consider to be wrong. Those ways include such diverse phenomena as gossip, ridicule, lynching, terrorism, warfare, feuding, genocide, law, mediation, and avoidance. Some of the forms of conflict management can be used in any given situation and can be somewhat predicted and explained by the social structure — or social geometry — of the case. Conflict management is not to be confused with conflict resolution which refers to resolving the dispute to the approval of one or both parties, whereas the former — conflict management — concerns an ongoing process that may never have a resolution. For example, gossip and feuds are very common methods of conflict management, but neither entails resolution. Neither is it the same as conflict transformation which seeks to reframe the positions of the conflict parties. Basics of Conflict Management When you are clarifying confusion about conflict you are to know the definition. Conflict is when two or more values, perspectives and opinions are contradictory in nature and haven’t been aligned or agreed about yet. One of the things that...
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...| | POWER AND CONFLICT Hello Friends! It’s a new week and I give you a new and interesting update. Power and conflict is a sensitive topic at every workplace and I would be glad if you guys can really contract few good things from my update and apply to your daily jobs. Keep up the hardwork! - Yesha Raval | 09 | | | | | “The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.” – Joseph Joubert | | do you influence your employees? | Power comes with control and differences raise conflicts. Power comes with control and differences raise conflicts. Power is privilege If you control something that has value then it makes you powerful (Borkowski, 2009). Existence of power is due to unequal relationship and dependency between people. Power can be defined as "the influence over the beliefs, emotions, and behaviors of people"(Borkowski, 2009). If you are able to influence your employees then you are said to have potential power. It depends upon how people behave, how they perceive and how they get motivated (Borkowski, 2009). Sources of power It is possible for an individual to exercise more than one source of power at a time. The four main sources of power are as follows (Borkowski, 2009): (1) Reward power - be able to offer reward, which is valuable, to others. (2) Coercive power - be able to punish others and withhold something that they need. (3) Legitimate power - having authority that is based on the position or your...
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...Not everyone is going to get along on a daily basis. There’s going to be conflicts in every environment especially in the workplace. Conflict is a typical phenomenon of people’s relationship in workplace. Conflict is a fact of life. Conflict is hard to define because every situation is different in every different workplace. Conflict is a job not easily handled, and it can be really destructive if not properly taken care of. The Webster’s Dictionary (2001) defines conflict as a battle; clash; or a disagreement of ideas, or interests. In order to resolve the conflict you must do whatever is best in the specific situation. Conflict is a problem that is tough for employees and managers to face. One of the most common specific sources of interpersonal conflict in the workplace is different perceptions among different individuals about their respective work responsibilities and areas of authority. (Blair, 2003) Workplace conflict can be caused by improper communication skills, difference in values or opinions, lack of fairness between race, gender, age, sex, class, education, and ability, different work environment, different cultures and limitations on resources. “Conflict in the workplace occurs when two or more people disagree over issues of organizational substance and / or experience some emotional antagonism with one another.” (Wood et al., 2003, p. 597) Workplace conflict is a conflict that can be caused by many factors. It can cause a great deal of stress for all those involved...
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...A Mir Kiss Case Analysis: Organizational Behavior and Culture Davenport University 01/09/11 I. The Situation: In preparation for an expedition to Mars, a joint international studies program, Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP), set up a replica in Moscow where three international researchers were joined with four Russian cosmonauts. The three researches were from Japan, Canada, and Austria. None of the participants spoke English as their first language, however they each communicated in English at varying levels of proficiency during their stay. The replica was no larger than the size of a train car. As part of the study, the researchers were asked to join the Russian cosmonauts for 110 days, after the four Russians had already completed almost half of their 240 days in isolation. Only one female, Judith Lapierre, was invited to participate in the experiment. She had a PhD in public health and social medicine, and had previously conducted isolation research in Antarctica. It should also be mentioned that this would be her fourth trip to Russia enabling her to learn the language. Lapierre claims that the Japanese and Austrian participants viewed her as something favorable. Lapierre created a comfortable environment by rearranging furniture, hanging posters and putting down a tablecloth on the kitchen table. Lapierre explained that the Russians only viewed their environment as something to be endured. It was during a New Year’s Eve party, when an event ensued...
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...Workplace Conflict: Critical Thinking and Conflict Resolution Charles Weathersby Columbia Southern University Annotated Bibliography Adkins, B. (2004, 5 28). Conflict could be costing your company more than you know. Fort Worth Business Press, pp. p33-33. This article profiles the norms as far as negatives and positives of workplace conflict then proceeds with a five step strategy for management. The article also suggests ways to deal with unresolved conflict in the workplace. It also discusses the impact on the industry that conflict has in regards to productivity; Positives from the use of an effective conflict management strategy; Assessment of corporate culture. Bowling, D.; Hoffman, D. (2003). Bringing Peace Into the Room: How the Personal Qualities of the Mediator Impact the Process of Conflict Resolution. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Bringing Peace Into the Room discusses how a person’s own personal values assist in them being an effective mediator. This book isn’t focused on the traditional elements but rather the emotional elements. It discusses how the temperament shapes thoughts that influence the decision making process. The authors base their book on the opinions of several professionals in the field of conflict resolution such as practitioners, academics, teachers, and trainers. Every respected professional interviewed had one common denominator on the subject of mediation and that was the interaction between the parties and the mediator's...
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...Hoffman Human Capital Essay #2 MGT344 Organizational Behavior August 4, 2013 Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to discuss what role conflict plays in the workplace. Conflict can be defined in a few different ways. “Conflict is an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scare resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals” (Definition of Conflict). Conflict is bound to happen, and to occur even in the most stable companies. Conflicts can be both positive and negative influences in a workplace. Constructive conflict creates a productive and safe place. Unresolved conflicts on the other hand, creates a hostile environment leading to a reduction in productivity. Conflict can be divided into multiple categories. Conflicts often occur when there are conflicting choices or people want different things. Changes within an organization can also create conflict. Finding a solution to reach a good solution is how conflicts are resolved. Conflict in the workplace is largely a result of changes. Employees often are required to adjust to new rules, management and locations. Tenure employees may refuse to break old habits and experience difficulties adjusting to new guidelines. All of these changes will create conflict. Being prepared to deal with the conflict is the important part. Change means something familiar is replaced with something new. These changes can cause employees to be emotional. Their perceptions...
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...Running head: CONFLICT SCENARIO Conflict Scenario: Resolving the Conflict Test123 University of Phoenix MGT/521 – Management Test123 Conflict Scenario: Resolving the Conflict First, in research to Conflict Scenario Singleton (2011) discusses the nature of conflicts in his article Workplace conflict: A strategic leadership imperative. According to Singleton: Conflict is a natural consequence of daily interactions. Workplace conflicts may rise because of: (1) lack of open or adequate communication between employees; (2) power struggles between departments; (3) the incompatibility of personal goals, social values, or personality characteristics; (4) role behavior required by employees’ jobs that conflict with their personal values; (5) leadership styles. (p.149) Further research into the nature of conflict scenarios finds that Myers (2005) asserts that “conflicts can be relational, process oriented and task oriented” (p. 306). As a manager of the Just Right Tire Company, the best course of action should be to have a face-to-face conservation with Jan, Sally, and Marc. This will help management in understanding their conflicts. The positives and negatives of their positions should also be considered to make an informed decision. Management should then explain to Jan, Sally, and Marc how these situations will cause negative impact on the project and on the organization. They should be reminded about the success...
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...Tackling Conflict and Poor Teamwork - Prevention Ultimately there is no guarantee that we will be able to prevent conflict. The point was made in the section entitled, What causes conflict? that the complex dynamics between people in social interaction will inevitably lead to conflict sooner or later. However, there are steps that we can take to try to keep conflict to a minimum - not to prevent it altogether (as that would clearly be unrealistic), but rather to prevent certain occurrences at least. Many conflicts can be seen to arise as a result of a breakdown in communication. A key issue, therefore, in preventing conflict is the importance of ensuring that communication takes place as effectively as possible. Conflict frequently arises from people having different perspectives on a situation or different interests in relation to that situation. The differences in their perspective can therefore easily lead to a communication breakdown in which each party fails to take on board the perspective of the other, and they therefore fail to 'connect' with one another in a meaningful way. Conflict can also arise as a result of the misuse or abuse of power (for example in the case of bullying or harassment). At certain times at least, therefore, preventing conflict is likely to involve making sure that policies and procedures in relation to bullying and harassment are in place and are actively used, rather than simply being pieces of paper on a shelf gathering dust. The same...
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...Conflict Causes Conflict is a process in which one party perceives that its interests are negatively affected by another party (Kinicki 2009). This is a normal and natural part of any work place. When it occurs, there is a tendency for morale to be lowered and decreased productivity. However, conflict can be useful, it can push conflicting parties to grow, communicate and urge the flow of new ideas. For this to happen, leaders need to understand why conflict occurs and take the correct steps to resolve it. According to psychologists Art Bell and Brett Hart, there are eight common causes of conflict within the workplace; conflicting resources, conflicting styles, confliction perceptions, conflicting goals, conflicting pressures conflicting roles, differing personal values and unpredictable policies (Bell, 2002) This paper will discusses a few of this conflict causes as well examples with consequences and possible steps for resolution. Conflicting goals: On occasion conflicting goals may occur in a workplace. As an example from my organization; the supervisor will tell us that it is important that our exams are done with the highest quality, to take our time and do a good job. On the other hand, the Physicians tell the technologist, I just need this test done, all I need to know is X, Y, Z, and I need it quick. These are two drastically differing goals, which can cause conflict in a variety of ways. Unfortunately this is all too often a scenario in our imaging department...
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...No matter where you work there will always be some type of conflict between staff members. Personalities, beliefs and miscommunication are some reasons why conflict occurs. It is the duty of the team leader or manager to recognize when there are conflicts and handle them promptly so the team can get back on track to accomplish their goal (Ray 2013). As a manager I have had a lot of different conflicts like: One employee being late constantly; this has made the rest of the employees uneasy because they don’t know what time they will be relieved from their duties. A couple of my employees don’t trust each other. We deal with money and a few of the employees have implied they think one is stealing their tips. One employee’s can’t seem to get the end of day paperwork right, which makes it harder for the next girl opening in the morning, because her cash register is always off. To solve these problems, the girl that was late is no longer working for us. The employee that they believe is taking their tips doesn’t work the bar and the one that her paperwork is messed up I have no longer put her on the night shift until I can retrain her to see where she is making her mistakes. If my employees did not trust me as a manager I would have never known that this issues where occurring. If I had not handled the conflicts quickly these issues could have been damaging to the company and to the rest of my employee. They could have gotten upset and left without notice; leaving...
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...Assignment 1. Briefly describe a conflict in your personal life or workplace and identify it as intrapersonal, interpersonal, or intergroup. I’m going to discuss an intrapersonal conflict that I experienced with myself. I am the type of person who says that I want something and that I’m going to do it or get it, but I end up not going through with it. Take when I was in school for example. I had it in my mind that I was going to go to the Air Force Reserves, it was just something about the thought of going off and experiencing life and seeing and learning new things. I signed up in my senior year of high school took the oath and everything. Before I knew it I was it was time for graduation. In my mind I was ready but in my heart I wasn’t really ready to just leave my family, I had really never gone anywhere and I was a shy teenager so leaving and not being around them was going to be different. I had bit of a stand still because the day that I was supposed to go to the Air Force Base where I would be going through basic training I was like 5 pounds’ overweight and so the first thing that came to mind was “that’s it I’m going home before I even get started” that right there was a conflict in itself. I had kind of given up I called my parents and they talked with me and prayed with me that everything works out like it’s supposed to. The next day I was shipped off to Basic Training. Even throughout basic training I experienced intrapersonal conflicts it was like I felt myself giving...
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...Resolving Employee Conflict Chassidy Babcock Liberty University Abstract Conflict is a process the begins when an individual believes that they have had some sort of a negative influence brought against them, by another individual or group of individuals (Satterlee2013). Workplace conflict is conflict in the workplace usually over personality clashes, or opinions in relationship (Wikipedia, n.d.). Workplace conflict is usually a normal occurrence. Whenever people work together conflict is likely to arise, and it can present challenges to the management when resolving the conflict. It is important for the management to respond constructively and come up with a fair solution to both sides of the party (Sandiland, T 2015). Statics show that conflicts in workplaces happen more frequently that realized and it consumes manager’s time, causing a decrease in overall productiveness within an organization. This is according to a study conducted in 1996. A typical manager can spend up to 30% of their time during a day when solving conflicts, and in severe cases conflicts can take up 42% of a manager’s time (Workplace Conflict, 2013, Dec 31). Some of the causes of workplace conflict are work style ethics, such as punctuality, making good use of time while on the clock, and workplace cleanliness. Background is another issue such as culture, how a person’s upbringing was religion, and...
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...Main Topic: Managing Workplace relationship, conflict and negotiation skills include effective communication. Building relationships within the workplace According to Harbour S. (2015) establishing and maintaining good working relationships is the key to a positive workplace. Effective businesses encourage the development of positive relationships between managers and employees as well as amongst coworkers. It is imperative to create a clear and concise company mission statement and distribute a copy of the statement to each employee, so that they can be clear on exactly what is expected of them and the intended goal of the business they represent. Teamwork should be encouraged through formal and informal team-building activities. Management could always arrange a company-oriented outing, such as fun days consisting of activities such as tug a war or cricket, or involve the office in a team-based charitable activity. Good relationships in the workplace thrive when individuals feel part of a team and comfortable with their teammates. The need for two way communication should be encouraged, as this would boost staff morale. The better and more effectively persons communicate with those around them, the richer the work relationships will be. All good relationships depend on open, honest communication. Managers should always reward great work as quickly as possible, and address problems or concerns immediately. Acknowledge staff members publicly with written or...
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