Uses of Conflict in Team Dynamics
Introduction
The Team concept is in no way a new idea, there have been many different types of teams throughout history sports teams, historical societies and theater groups just to name a few. However, in today’s work environment the Team concept has become a valuable tool used by various businesses to address and assess issues within those organizations leading to greater efficiency and production. As such conflicts, a common occurrence within a team, should be understood, properly managed and ultimately used as a positive method to help the team achieve its goal(s). The challenge is to take advantage of the opportunities inherent within conflict while reducing the potential negative effects.
Definition of Conflict Conflict is generally a disagreement regarding interests and ideas between two or more individuals within an organization. While conflict can be viewed as negative, it has important implications in increasing the effectiveness of a team. (Esquirel & Kleiner, 2006). “A number of scholars have argued that conflict-management, and particularly conflict resolution, is an important predicator of the group conflict-performance relationship” (Marks, Mathieu & Zoccora, 2001, 356). If a group/team can effectively learn to recognize potential conflicts and be proactive in trying to avert them it shows that the team has learned to work as one unit, not diminishing the need for individuality, rather to show that the group can come together and work effectively towards a common goal.
Forms of Conflict Conflict can be considered constructive if: people change and grow personally, conflict results in a solution to the problem at hand and increases involvement of everyone affected by the conflict. Conflict can be considered negative if: no decision is reached and the problem still exists, destroys