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Organizational Conflict

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Submitted By JayGaz
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Causes of Organizational Conflict by George N. Root III, Demand Media
Managerial Expectations
It is the job of an employee to meet the expectations of his manager, but if those expectations are misunderstood, conflict can arise. Managers need to spend time clearly communicating their goals to employees and then confirming those goals in writing. A manager should also encourage her employees to ask questions about their goals, and hold regular meetings to discuss the goals and how best to reach them.
Breakdown in Communication
If a department requires information from another department in order to do its job, and the second department does not respond to the request for information, a conflict can arise. Some interdepartmental disagreements might trigger a nonresponsive attitude that can quickly become an internal conflict. Another way of creating this sort of conflict is by giving a circular response such as an issue being perpetually "under review." When people or departments are late in responding to information requests, or they are withholding information on purpose, it is best to address the situation immediately with a personal meeting with both sides to resolve the situation.
Related Reading: Organizational Structure & Conflict of Interest
Misunderstanding the Information
According to mediation expert Robert D. Benjamin, writing on Mediate.com, internal conflict can sometimes arise as the result of a simple misunderstanding. One person may misunderstand information, and that can trigger a series of conflicts. In order to deal with this kind of situation, it is best to have the person admit her misunderstanding and work with the affected parties to remedy the situation. For example, if the production manager misunderstands the product manufacturing goals, then the sales manager may not have enough product to sell. Taking responsibility for a

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