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Conflict – Causes and Management

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Conflict – Causes and Management
Conflict – Causes and Management

Conflict management plays a key role in any organization. Conflict management helps to identify and resolve the issues even before it happens. As defined in the dictionary, the following bear closer resemblance with what some organizations define as conflict. Conflict is defined as ‘the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the dramatic action in a drama or fiction; and incompatibility ' or ‘interference, as of one idea, desire, event, or activity with another '. In modern day management conflict has a broader meaning and plays a vital role in the success of any organization. Organizational conflict involves interpersonal conflicts with colleagues or supervisors, or inter group conflicts within different sections of an organization. This paper presents the causes, types and management techniques of conflicts that arise in daily management.

Cause of Conflict
The cause of conflict can be either a disagreement or fear. Conflict can arise within employees when they feel that they are not working up to their values; or there is a discomfort from the fear of lack of fulfillment by the organization. Most successful organizations have good conflict management systems. Getting most productivity from diversity (ideas and people) keeps the organization on top of the line in employee satisfaction. The conflict is not at all a problem in many organizations. Many employees feel that the problem is poor conflict management. This results in serious organizational issues like increased conflicts, poor productivity and very low level of employee satisfaction.

Need for Conflict
Research shows that conflict is often needed in an organization. Conflict often addresses the following:
1. Conflict helps to raise and address the problems that are faced in daily work environment and thus helps in building a better work environment.
2. Conflict motivates them to participate more actively in their work because



References: Carter McNamara (2007): Basics of Conflict Management. Field Guide to Leadership and Supervision, 2-3. J. D. Neal and Associates, Inc (2007): Conflict Management. 4th Street Training Facilitator Guide, Business Management Skills Series. Dr. Günther Ossimitz (1999): The evolution of Conflicts. Conflict-Management – Schwarz, 1-2. Daniel A. Leinbaugh (2007): Sources and Management of Conflict in Blended Organizations. Department of Communication Studies, Indiana University.

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