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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Conflict management involves implementing strategies to limit the negative aspects of conflict and to increase the positive aspects of conflict at a level equal to or higher than where the conflict is taking place. Furthermore, the aim of conflict management is to enhance learning and group outcomes (effectiveness or performance in organizational setting) (Rahim, 2002, p. 208). It is not concerned with eliminating all conflict or avoiding conflict. Conflict can be valuable to groups and organizations. It has been shown to increase group outcomes when managed properly (e.g. Alper, Tjosvold, & Law, 2000; Bodtker & Jameson, 2001; Rahim & Bonoma, 1979; Khun & Poole, 2000; DeChurch & Marks, 2001).
Contents
[hide] 1 Definitions 1.1 Conflict 1.2 Substantive Vs. Affective 1.3 Organizational and Interpersonal Conflict
2 Conflict Resolution Vs. Conflict Management 3 Models of Conflict Management 3.1 Early Conflict Management Models 3.2 Khun and Pooles Model
4 Current Conflict Management 5 Methodology has Changed 6 How to manage conflict 6.1 General Suggestions from Rahim's Criteria for Conflict Management (2002) 6.2 Other suggestions
7 Interpersonal Communication 8 Steps to Manage 9 International Conflict Management 10 Training 11 Counseling 12 See also 13 References 14 Further reading 15 External links
[edit] Definitions
[edit] Conflict
While no single definition of conflict exists, most definitions seem to involve the following factors: that there are at least two independent groups, the groups perceive some incompatibility between themselves, and the groups interact with each other in some way (Putnam and Poole, 1987). Two example definitions are, process in which one party perceives that its interests are being opposed or negatively affected by another party" (Wall & Callister, 1995, p. 517), and the interactive process manifested in incompatibility, disagreement, or dissonance within or between social entities (Rahim, 1992, p. 16). There are several causes of conflict. Conflict may occur when: A party is required to engage in an activity that is incongruent with his or her needs or interests. A party holds behavioral preferences, the satisfaction of which is incompatible with another person's implementation of his or her preferences. A party wants some mutually desirable resource that is in short supply, such that the wants of all parties involved may not be satisfied fully. A party possesses attitudes, values, skills, and goals that are salient in directing his or her behavior but are perceived to be exclusive of the attitudes, values, skills, and goals held by the other(s). Two parties have partially exclusive behavioral preferences regarding their joint actions. Two parties are interdependent in the performance of functions or activities.
the same or different level, if in an organization. Interpersonal conflict can be divided into intragroup and intergroup conflict. While the former--intragroup--occurs between members of a group (or between subgroups within a group), the latter--intergroup--occurs between groups or units in an organization (Rahim, 2002).
Khun and Poole (2000) established a similar system of group conflict management. In their system, they split Kozans confrontational model into two sub models: distributive and integrative. Distributive - Here conflict is approached as a distribution of a fixed amount of positive outcomes or resources, where one side will end up winning and the other losing, even if they do win some concessions. Integrative - Groups utilizing the integrative model see conflict as a chance to integrate the needs and concerns of both groups and make the best outcome possible. This model has a heavier emphasis on compromise than the distributive model. Khun and Poole found that the integrative model resulted in consistently better task related outcomes than those using the distributive model.
Within this framework are five management approaches: integrating, obliging, dominating, avoiding, and compromising. Integration involves openness, exchanging information, looking for alternatives, and examining differences so solve the problem in a manner that is acceptable to both parties. Obliging is associated with attempting to minimize the differences and highlight the commonalities to satisfy the concern of the other party. When using the dominating style one party goes all out to win his or her objective and, as a result, often ignores the needs and expectations of the other party. When avoiding a party fails to satisfy his or her own concern as well as the concern of the other party. Lastly, compromising involves give-and-take whereby both parties give up something to make a mutually acceptable decision. (Rahim, 2002). See the table on the right, as a quick reference for when a particular conflict management style is appropriate / inappropriate.
Supervisors spend more than 25% of their time on conflict management, and managers spend more than 18% of their time on relational employee conflicts. These figures have doubled since the mid 1980s. Companies have distinguished some key factors as the growing complexity of organizations, use of teams and group decision making, and globalization. (Lang, 2009, p. 240) The United Kingdoms Defense Department realized that the new concepts of threats are not the concern any more. It is the capability to deal with them that matters. (Fisher, 2010, p.429) It is now becoming more evident that this is something that companies and managers need to recognize, and deal with. Conflict significantly affects employee morale, turnover, and litigation, which affects the prosperity of a company, either constructively or destructively. (Lang, 2009, p. 240) Turnover can cost a company 200% of the employees annual salary. (Maccoby & Scudder, p.48) The Honeywell Studies state that managers tend to learn 50% of what they know, on the job. Due to the speed at which conflict has changed, this knowledge may not have been acquired. Based on the same studies, managers also learned their skills from higher education, but this was only at a 20% rate. (Zempke, p. 46-51) This is a concern because little has been done in the undergraduate universities to study this subject. (Lang, 2009, p. 240) Study shows that a total of 14% of the universities actually had a required course for dealing with conflict management. (Lang, 2009, p.243)
[edit] General Suggestions from Rahim's Criteria for Conflict Management (2002)
Organization Learning and Effectiveness- In order to attain this objective, conflict management strategies should be designed to enhance critical and innovative thinking to learn the process of diagnosis and intervention in the right problems. Needs of Stakeholders- Sometimes multiple parties are involved in a conflict in an organization and the challenge of conflict management would be to involve these parties in a problem solving process that will lead to collective learning and organizational effectiveness. organizations should institutionalize the positions of employee advocate, customer and supplier advocate, as well as environmental and stockholder advocates. Ethics - A wise leader must behave ethically, and to do so the leader should be open to new information and be willing to change his or her mind. By the same token subordinates and other stakeholders have an ethical duty to speak out against the decisions of supervisors when consequences of these decisions are likely to be serious. Without an understanding of ethics, conflict cannot be handled (Batcheldor, 2000).
their values in mind, and will not feel safe in opening up. (Huo & Molina & Sawahata & Deang, 2005, p. 240) Melissa Taylors work in a 2010 article looks at the attitudes employees have about themselves and managers have about their characteristics. A person with internal locus of control feels like they have a great deal of control concerning their surroundings and outcomes. The people who feel they have control of their destiny have these characteristics. They have an increased ability to persuade in interactions, are accomplishment driven and perceive communication as a satisfactory result due to their input. These types of individuals tend to communicate more and are less anxious about what they are talking about. A person with external locus control feels like others have more of an effect on their circumstances. Employees and managers who feel this way try to avoid communication, will associate with people but do not look for information, try hard to preserve their honor, have less demands on themselves towards reaching goals and dont believe that others are honest with them. Managers with an external locus of control are more coercive, sarcastic, less likely to find solutions, and are ineffective communicators.
These two styles are traits that employers may want to look for when hiring a manager. (Taylor, 2010, p. 448)
(Maccoby & Studder, p.50) Melissa Taylors research on Locus of Control is directly related to individual abilities of communication, especially as it pertains to interpersonal conflict. She also states that conflicts should be solution driven which are creative and integrative. They should be nonconfrontational, and they should still maintain control, utilizing non-verbal messages to achieve the outcome.(Taylor, p. 449)
Rahim, Antonioni, and Psenickas 2001 article deals with two types of leaders. Those that have concern for themselves, and those that have concern for others. (Rahim, Antonioni & Psenicka, 2001, p.195) They also have degrees of conflict management style. Integrating involves opening up, creating dialogue, and exploring differences to choose an effective solution for both groups. This style is positively associated with individual and organizational outcomes. (Rahim et al., p. 197) Obliging tries to find the same interests of the parties, while trying to minimize the true feeling of the conflict, to satisfy the other party. Dominating is a coercive manager who forces their own way. Avoiding is ignoring the problem in hopes that it will go away. Compromising is a manger that is willing to make concessions and the employee makes concessions for a mutual agreement. (Rahim et al., p.196)
The avoiding and dominating styles are considered ineffective in management. The following chart shows the interaction between the styles. (Rahim et al., p. 196) Power is defined as "the ability of one party to change or control the behavior, attitudes, opinions, objectives, needs, and values of another party" (Rahim et al., p. 192) There are five types of power. Coercive power is based on subordinates' perception of punishment. Reward power is based on subordinates' perception of rewards. Legitimate power is based on a superior has the right to control behavior. Expert power is based on subordinates' belief that a superior is an expert. Referent power is based on subordinates' interpersonal attraction to and identification with a superior because of their admiration or personal liking of the superior. (Rahim et al., p. 194)
Referent power is the most desirable because these types of managers are able to obtain trust, openness and respect from their employees. It is also associated with the ability of changing behavior, where the other styles, by themselves, do not. (Rahim et al., p. 205) Experts may know what they are doing, but if they cannot effectively communicate on an interpersonal level, they cannot achieve optimum results. Rahim, Antonioni, and Psenicka have a quote to be reflected upon; The linkage between expert and referent power bases probably indicates that managers who are high on expert power have high cognitive abilities (IQ), but the managers who are high on referent power have high non-cognitive skills, capabilities, and competencies. Goleman (1998) provides some evidence that managers with the later skills possess what he calls emotional intelligence (EQ). Without EQ "a person can have the best training in the world, an incisive, analytical mind, and an endless supply of smart ideas, but he still won't make a great leader. (Rahim et al., p. 205)
Special consideration should be paid to conflict management between two parties from distinct cultures. In addition to the everyday sources of conflict, "misunderstandings, and from this counterproductive, pseudo conflicts, arise when members of one culture are unable to understand culturally determined differences in communication practices, traditions, and thought processing" (Borisoff & Victor, 1989). Indeed, this has already been observed in the business research literature. Renner (2007) recounted several episodes where managers from developed countries moved to less developed countries to resolve conflicts within the company and met with little success due to their failure to adapt to the conflict management styles of the local culture. As an example, in Kozans study noted above, he noted that Asian cultures are far more likely to use a harmony model of conflict management. If a party operating from a harmony model comes in conflict with a party using a more confrontational model, misunderstandings above and beyond those generated by the conflict itself will arise. International conflict management, and the cultural issues associated with it, is one of the primary areas of research in the field at the time, as existing research is insufficient to deal with the ever increasing contact occurring between international entities.
[edit] Training
With only 14% of researched universities reporting mandatory courses in this subject, and with the up to 25% of the managers day being spent on dealing with conflict, education needs to reconsider the importance of this subject. The subject warrants emphasis on enabling students to deal with conflict management. (Lang, p. 240) Providing more conflict management training in undergraduate business programs could help raise the emotional intelligence of future managers. The improvement of emotional intelligence found that employees were more likely to use problem-solving skills, instead of trying to bargain. (Lang, p. 241) Students need to have a good set of social skills. Good communication skills allow the manager to accomplish interpersonal situations and conflict. Instead of focusing on conflict as a behavior issue, focus on the communication of it. (Myers & Larson, 2005, p.307) With an understanding of the communications required, the student will gain the aptitude needed to differentiate between the nature and types of conflicts. These skills also teach that relational and procedural conflict needs a high degree of immediacy to resolution. If these two conflicts are not dealt with quickly, an employee will become dissatisfied or perform poorly. (Myers & Larson, p.313) It is also the responsibility of companies to react. One option is to identify the skills needed in house, but if the skills for creating workplace fairness are already lacking, it may be best to have an outside organization assist. These are called Developmental Assessment Centers. According to Rupp, Baldwin, and Bashur, these organizations have become a popular means for providing coaching, feedback, and experiential learning opportunities. (Rupp, Baldwin & Bashshur, 2006, p. 145) Their main focus is fairness and how it impacts employees attitudes and performance. These organizations teach competencies and what they mean. (Rupp et al., p. 146) The students then participate in simulations. Multiple observers assess and record what skills are being used
and then return this feedback to the participant. After this assessment, participants are then given another set of simulations to utilize the skills learned. Once again they receive additional feedback from observers, in hopes that the learning can be used in their workplace. The feedback the participant receives is detailed, behaviorally specific, and high quality. This is needed for the participant to learn how to change their behavior. (Rupp et al., p. 146) In this regard, it is also important that the participant take time to self-reflect so that learning may occur. Once an assessment program is utilized, action plans may be developed based on quantitative and qualitative data. (Rupp et al., p. 159)
[edit] Counseling
When personal conflict leads to frustration and loss of efficiency, counseling may prove to be a helpful antidote. Although few organizations can afford the luxury of having professional counselors on the staff, given some training, managers may be able to perform this function. Nondirective counseling, or "listening with understanding," is little more than being a good listenersomething every manager should be.[1] Sometimes the simple process of being able to vent one's feelingsthat is, to express them to a concerned and understanding listener, is enough to relieve frustration and make it possible for the frustrated individual to advance to a problem-solving frame of mind, better able to cope with a personal difficulty that is affecting his work adversely. The nondirective approach is one effective way for managers to deal with frustrated subordinates and co-workers.[2] There are other more direct and more diagnostic ways that might be used in appropriate circumstances. The great strength of the nondirective approach (nondirective counseling is based on the client-centered therapy of Carl Rogers), however, lies in its simplicity, its effectiveness, and the fact that it deliberately avoids the manager-counselor's diagnosing and interpreting emotional problems, which would call for special psychological training. No one has ever been harmed by being listened to sympathetically and understandingly. On the contrary, this approach has helped many people to cope with problems that were interfering with their effectiveness on the job.[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_management#Conflict
[edit] References
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