Organizational Conflict

Organizational conflict is the state of discord refers to the state of disagreement.  It occurs when two or more parties feel themselves in opposition.

Nature and Types of organizational conflict:

• Individual Level
• Group Level
• Organizational Level

They are mutually exclusive, process, specific events, inevitable, perceptions of disagreement, security of resources, scarcity of resources, situational results, and multidimensional.

Sources of conflicts:

• Conflicts in goals
• Conflicts in ideas and attitudes
• Conflict in behavior
• Conflict in resource sharing
• Change
• Confusion
• Poor communication
• Personality clashes
• Lack of job clarity

Types of organizational conflicts:

1. Functional or dysfunctional conflicts
   (constructive and destructive)
2.  Task, process, or relationship conflicts
3. Interpersonal conflicts
4. Intergroup conflict
5. Inter-organizational conflict

Functional Conflicts:

It is a positive form of conflict. It supports individual and group goals, which leads to higher performance.

Circumstances for functional conflict:

• Conflicts develop cohesiveness among group members.
• Conflicts lead to innovation and creativity.
• Conflict provides a challenging work environment and enhances opportunities for self-development.
• Enhances work culture leads to up-gradation of various systems within the organization.

Dysfunctional Conflicts:

It is a destructive form of conflict. It obstructs individuals or groups to perform.

The circumstance of dysfunctional conflicts:

• When conflict does not lead to a solution.
• When basic goals of the organization are neglected.
• When people feel defeated.
• Conflict may lead to absenteeism and increase employee turnover.
• Dual management style

Caused by differences in needs, value, and interest of different people.

It can be between individuals as well as between two or more groups.

Process of Conflicts:

Levels of Conflicts:

Intra-Individual Conflicts	Inter-Personal Conflicts
Conflict due to Frustration Value and Goal Conflict Role Conflict	Personal Differences Information Deficiency Role Incompatibility Environmental Stress Role Incompatibility Environmental Stress

Levels of conflicts:

Intra-Group Conflicts	Organizational Conflicts
Competition for resources Task interdependence Status struggles	Vertical Conflicts Horizontal Conflicts Line and staff conflicts Role conflicts

 

Conflict resolution strategies/approaches:

Interpersonal conflict management strategies

• Forcing/Competing
• Problem-solving/Collaborating
• Compromising
• Avoiding
• Accommodating

Structural Approaches

• Emphasize superordinate goals
• Reduce differentiation
• Improve communication and understanding
• Reduce task interdependency
• Increase resources
• Clarify rule and procedures

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