Conflict Resolution Strategies

Managing Conflict Effectively

• Recognizing when there is a real disagreement is crucial to minimizing counterproductive conflicts
• Many apparent conflicts arise from people using different language to describe the same issue
• Examples of this include marketing focusing on "distribution problems" and operations focusing on "supply chain management" for the same issue

Resolving Conflicts Successfully

• Groups that resolve conflicts successfully discuss differences of opinion openly
• They are prepared to manage conflict when it arises
• Open discussion helps develop a shared understanding of the problems at hand
• It also enables groups to work toward a mutually acceptable solution

Conflict Resolution Strategies Across Cultures

• Conflict resolution strategies differ across countries
• These differences may be based on collectivistic tendencies and motives
• Collectivist cultures view people as deeply embedded in social situations
• Individualist cultures, on the other hand, view people as autonomous

Power and Politics

• Power and politics are often avoided topics in research and practice, with people finding it easier to discuss sex or money.
• Those who have power tend to deny it, while those who seek it try not to appear to be doing so, and those who are skilled at acquiring power keep their methods secret.
• Power and political behavior are natural processes that occur in any group or organization.
• Understanding how power is acquired and exercised is crucial to understanding organizational behavior.
• The common phrase "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" suggests that power can lead to corruption, but power is not inherently bad.

Learn how to recognize and resolve conflicts effectively in groups, including how to discuss differences of opinion openly and overcome language barriers.