Managing Conflict

Conflicts exist whenever an action by one party is perceived as preventing or interfering with the goals, needs, or actions of another party.

Conflict is natural to organizations and can never be completely eliminated. If not managed properly, conflict can be dysfunctional and lead to undesirable consequences, such as hostility, lack of cooperation, and even violence. When managed effectively, conflict can stimulate creativity, innovation, and change.

Conflicts exist whenever an action by one party is perceived as preventing or interfering with the goals, needs, or actions of another party. Conflicts have varying causes but are generally rotted in one of three areas: problems in communication; disagreements over work design, policies, and practices; and personal differences.

ACTION POINT: Manage conflict effectively to stimulate creativity and innovation.