Functional Conflict Case Study

Conflict seems to inevitable when trying to merge two companies. Conflict is described as the “Process which begins when one party perceives that the other has frustrated or is about to frustrate, some concern of his” (Kumar, 2009). Synergon’s CEO uses a “take no prisoners” approach and would fire most of the management team within 12 months of taking over a company using an approach they call neutron bombing. In cases where both companies are successful like in the case of Synergon Capital and Beauchamp you add even more conflict. The managers of Beauchamp are used to operating in a positive way that has produced profits for the company and you add Nick Cunningham a manager of Synergon who is used to restructure management in newly acquired poorly ran

When managed correctly functional conflict helps managers anticipate and solve problems, feel confident and strengthen relationships. Dysfunctional conflict is a confrontation or interaction between groups that harms the organization or the achievement of organizational goals (Kumar, 2009). Cunningham is faced with a functional conflict. The conflict created by the merger that Cunningham is faced with can create positive consequences for both Synergon, and Beauchamp. Cunningham must solve the problems between the two companies and make it acceptable to all parties involved. Under functional conflict Cunningham can test the merits of arguments, assumptions and the value the ideas between the two companies. When Cunningham meets with Julian Mansfield, he is going to have to present high quality decision results while expressing their opposing views and perspectives on how they are going to create a constructive integration and keep the merger operational using functional