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The Importance of Communication in Resolving Team Conflict

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The Importance of Communication in Resolving Team Conflict
John Cathey
50023176
Manuscript Assignment
MGT 567.01W: Managing Groups & Teams

Abstract
Organizations have been creating teams in an effort to improve communications, processes, respond to customers, or develop new processes or services. Conflict within teams is not new nor is it unexpected or always destructive. Organizations are looking at new ways to form teams and technology has increased the ability to form teams from diverse locations. Teams no longer must be formed from a single location, there are now virtual teams. These teams may be made up of members from different time zones or countries. There is also a new form of team to explore, communities of practice, a group of people that share information, insight, tools, and experience about a subject or area of interest (Kerno & Mace, 2010). What types of conflict arise in these types of teams, do managers need to manage the conflict differently, or does conflict affect these teams differently? This paper looks at the types of conflict found in each of these teams as well as the impact conflict can have on team productivity. It is important for those managers responsible for teams understand the impact of conflict and how to successfully manage it to ensure the team meets or exceeds the goals set by the organization. This paper will provide some insight to assist managers with that task.
The Importance of Communication in Resolving Team Conflict
Managers know that a real team will outperform the same set of individuals in a non-team mode, especially where multiple skills, experiences, and judgments determine performance (Katzenbach & Smith 1993). Organizations are attempting to leverage the improvements a high performance team can bring. In today’s global business environment this can lead to a potential increase in

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