Workplace Conflicts

Abstract

Conflict usually identified as a fact of life and can be found in any organizations. Conflict in any case cannot be determined as a healthy element of organizational culture and resolution is vital for the success of organization. Conflicts occur due to many reasons, among which excess workload is a serious concern as it develops strain on employees' performance. This paper aims to explain conflicts and propose some useful methods to resolve conflicts at workplace.

Table of Contents

Workplace Conflicts1

1

1

Abstract2

Table of Contents3

Workplace Conflicts4

Introduction4

Problem4

Reasons of Conflict5

Literature Review6

Discussion7

Conflict Resolution Approaches7

Leadership Intervention9

Performance Management10

Role of Motivation12

Methodology14

Conclusion16

References17

Workplace Conflicts

Introduction

In today's rapidly changing business environment, success of any project or organization lies in the ability of management to effectively communicate with their employees, lead all small and large teams, and manage fruitful negotiations as well as conflicts. Agricola (2010) explains Conflict as a situation in which a single or more individuals face incompatibility in their ideas, actions and beliefs. Hood (2005) argues that conflicts can be seen in any business unit, division or at organizational as well as individual levels. These conflicts occur due to various reasons including absence of common values and goals, difference in knowledge of employees, poor training and lacking in experience (Black, 2008). In addition, poor communication, weak interpersonal skills, excess of stress and fear also play a major role in developing conflicts in the internal environment of organization.

Problem

In fact, researchers claim that conflict cannot be avoided in any organization because the nature of organizational itself is complex and interdependent (Pathak, 2010). There is no doubt about the fact that conflicts, whether large or small, affect organization in different ways. Employees working in an organization where conflicts have become norm face mental as well as psychological issues in terms of frustration and anger, which de-motivates them. In addition, conflicts also affect organization by decreasing its productivity and creativity of employees (Pathak, 2010). It has also been seen that conflicts also cause employees to leave organizations as many employees look for peaceful, productive and progressive work environment. In fact, conflicts are pushing organizations to lose money, businesses, customers and resources as conflicts do not allow employees and management to focus on their objectives and goals. In order to address the topic, it is important to understand the reasons of conflicts and its resolution through conflict management, performance management and motivational factors.

Reasons of Conflict

Conflicts in any organization or project are generally seen as a barrier to organizational development and, if prevail, may cause failure of the mission of that organization or project. The organizational conflict is referred to a state of difference between two or more members of an organization, which mainly occurs due to scarce resources or activities, unequal status, dissimilar goals, values or ideas. In addition, it can also be defined as a process that takes place when one party realizes that the other has frustrated, or going to frustrate some of their interests (Darr & Johns, 2008). No doubt that incompatible goals and values are generally considered as most significant reason for organizational conflicts, ...