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Conflict resolution in the workplace case studies
Conflict resolution strategies
Conflict resolution strategies
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Managers use within 24 to 60 percent of their time at work engaging with conflict in the workplace (Fiore). Often, employees are either in conflict with another person, avoiding the conflict of other staff and managers, or recovering from a dispute in the workplace. Disagreements and differences of opinion can escalate into interpersonal conflict when varying ideas exist regarding personal and organizational success. The high drive for work-related achievement in some employees can clash with staff who do not emphasize work-related success in their lives. I recently endured an interpersonal conflict with a fellow coworker who desires to be the person that everyone goes to for a lot of tasks, but she regularly falls short of correctly finishing or setting the proper level of importance on these assignments. As a result, coworkers and I experience additional work created by the mistakes or delays. I attempted to have a discussion with this coworker as to why she continues to neglect her duties and cause hardship on the other staff. Based on her feedback, I could present some suggestions to enhance how duties associated …show more content…
The conflict style I tried to use in this situation was collaborating; I win you win. By applying this style, we both would win because our work could be completely effectively. That means I would not be faced with the stress of having to correct her mistakes consistently and she would not be confronted with the eventual fear of being reprimanded and recognized as someone who could not get things done. My conflict style was not well received, and in direct contrast to the avoiding, I lose-you lose style she applied. In my opinion, her response exhibited a classic example of this style. She showed that she was not concerned with either of our needs and psychologically withdrew from the
My brother, Andrew stated that he felt betrayed how his best friends go out and party with him, then turned around and call my mother, Faye, and told them that he was addicted to cocaine. Two days went by; my brother, Andrew, avoided all phone calls from my mother and his best friends. Finally, on the third day after the confrontation, my oldest brother, Gary, and mother, Faye, showed up at Andrew’s dorm room and explained to him if he went with them to get a drug assessment then he would be able to stay in school and keep everything that my family had threatened to take away from him. My brother, Andrew, had already lost most of his trust in his friends, but he agreed to take a drug assessment because he did not want to lose what he had.
According to Riaz and Junaid (2010), there are four levels of conflict evaluation: intragroup, intergroup, intrapersonal and interpersonal. Sources of intrapersonal conflict include inappropriate demand on one’s capacity, goal incongruence and mal-assignment. Mal-assignment rises in cases where an employee is allocated a task to which he or she does not have the right skills or knowledge, commitment or aptitude. The employee experiences an overloaded qualitative role resulting to role conflict. The employee is unable to satisfy the specified capacity even if he or she works to his or her capacity leading to quantitative ro...
This was a challenge because at times we have different perspectives on how to approach the situations and how to deliver services. Of course she has been working at this department a lot longer than I have, has more experience than me, and has known this client a lot longer than I have made it difficult for me to approach certain situations. Not to say that she was wrong or that I was wrong, but there was often times a difference of opinions. My schedule again interfered with daily staffing of the
It has been estimated in a study by the American Management Association that managers spend between 20% to as much as 50% of their times dealing with conflict among their employees (American Sentinel, 2012). When workplace conflicts are left unresolved they can lead to dissatisfaction, depression and other problems such as aggression and violence (Whitworth 2008). The negative, sometimes hostile, environment created by unresolved conflict has been recognized to be a hazard not only to staff, but also to patient care (The Joint Commission 2008).
Thomas, K. W. (1992). Conflict and conflict management: Reflections and update. . Journal Of Organizational Behavior, 13(3), 265-274.
Although there is a plethora of possible sources of conflict in any workplace, the ones in this case are rather explicit. These include personal differences, Informal deficiencies’, role incompatibility, environment stress, perceptions, and expectations. Personal differences could be related to personal values, physiognomies, family bonds or ties, and material belongings.
A group can only be called a team if the members are actively working together toward a common goal. A team must have the capability to set goals, make decisions, solve problems, and share responsibilities. For a team to be successful, trust must be earned between its members by being consistent and reliable (Temme & Katzel, 2005). When more than one person is working on a particular task, inconsistent views or opinions commonly arise. People come from different backgrounds and live through different life experiences therefore, even when working towards a common goal, they will not always see eye to eye. Major conflict that is not dealt with can devastate a team or organization (Make Conflict Work, 2008). In some situations, conflict can be more constructive than destructive. Recognizing the difference between conflict that is constructive to the team and conflict that is destructive to the team is important. Trying to prevent the conflict is not always the best way to manage conflict when working within a team setting. Understanding conflict, what causes it, and how to resolve conflict effectively, should consume full concentration.
The interpersonal conflict revolves around my mother and I. We have always had a strong relationship but lately, have been at constant odds between each other. There is conflict between us because of our conflicting views on whats the better option for our beloved dog. My mother will always hold the power most of the times by default, she is my mother after all, but when it comes to this specific interpersonal conflict, I certainly hold the power. Other family members know of this dilemma as well including my grandmother who is just as conflicted as my mother and I are. My grandmother has a strong attachment to our dog and would effect her emotionally.
workplace include greater total resources, greater knowledge band and a greater source of ideas. However, these advantages can also bring on conflict within teams and the entire workplace. Varney (1989) reported that conflict remained the number one problem within a large company. This was after several attempts were made to train management in conflict resolutions and procedures. However, the conflict remained. The conflict possibly remains because the managers and leaders did not pay attention to the seriousness of the issue. In order to maintain an effective team, leaders and team members must know and be proactive in the conflict resolution techniques and procedures.
Gross and Guerrero (2000) supported Rahim’s conflict management styles and identified that these styles are associated with organizational climate and culture, job satisfaction. Their research on 50 employees uncovered some facts include employees who were involved in unmanaged conflict end up in job dissatisfaction and subsequently their performance deters (p. 208). The competence-based model developed by Canary, Cupach and Serpe (2001) contrast with Rahim’s theory, where the effectiveness of conflict management styles is based on the situation and understanding of individuals (p. 81). They tried to find a resolution for the conflict instead of implementing the strategy to reduce tension by applying conflict management styles, resulting in inconsistent outcomes (p. 531).
To begin, it’s in our nature and being, to face conflicts in our lives. We have all faced challenges at least once in our lifetime; this is what makes us human. There are many varieties of conflicts such as an inner-conflict, conflict between oneself and nature, God and oneself, man versus man, and social conflict. The book [“Constructive Conflicts”] by Louis Kriesberg and Bruce Dayton, defines: “Social conflicts occur when two or more persons or groups manifest the belief that they have incompatible objectives” [pg. 1-25]. In this paper, I will analyze strategies for solving a social conflict (Man vs. Workforce). This conflict takes place at Nordstrom Rack; at which, I started working three months ago. Myself and many other employees are conflicted about the way the store manager treats the employees. The conflict discussed is the presumption of my managers lack affiliation and appreciation towards the employees, in our role of purpose
Conflict exists in every organization as a result of incompatible needs, goals, and objectives of two people while aligning to the overall business requirements. Though disagreement is linked with negative impact, the approach has healthy considerations (Leung, 2008). For instance, some conflicts create an avenue for the exchange of ideas and creativity to meet the set organizational purposes. However, damaging disagreement in organizations results in employee dissatisfaction, turnover, and poor services and reduced productivity. The paper establishes different types of interpersonal conflict and key resolution strategies used to address the problem. Human resource managers need to have the capacity to identify different levels of conflicts and the best methods to negate them.
This elasticity in your approach to choosing which conflict style is best for the current situation is a key to managing conflict. No one style of conflict resolution will work all the time when addressing issues. You must remain flexible to other people’s wants, needs, direction, criticism, schedules, moods, temperament, and a myriad of other things in life. If there is one thing in life that will never change it is the fact that everything is going to change! There is nothing you can do to stop it, so the quicker you learn how to adapt to the changes the better off you will be. The ability to change your approach to dealing with conflict better prepares you to face the interpersonal challenges that will eventually come your way. I believe it is important to also remember that you cannot win every battle with every person you encounter. Knowing that you cannot fix or solve every problem with everyone is very helpful in reducing stress and managing difficult situations with others. My father dislikes when I use this cliché but sometimes, it is what it
Organizations strive for creative ways to enhance employee motivation and resolve conflicts with the desire to have employees perform better within the workplace. To motivate one has to be motivated. Motivation within the workplace has to be constant and requiring a goal. Motivation, if not repeated will not last. Therefore, learning to determine how different organizations apply motivation theories to motivate employees, analyzing conflict management strategies and what approaches work best in different organizations will influence the success of an organization.
In the workplace, disagreement or arguments may arise due to several reasons. This can further result into a state of antagonism or opposition, resentment, avoidance, verbal assaults, and inability to work together. Such may arise due to personality clashes, differences in style, differences in leadership, interdependence conflicts and differences in the background or gender. With reference to the conflict between Norm and Norma, disagreement arose due to differences in styles. This is because Norma was after quick result from the initiated project while Norm believed he could work from home and still meet the expected standard. However, Norma expected full commitment from all the staff under her. For good working relations, conflicts should always be resolved and hence improve good working relationship among the employees both the juniors and seniors. Professionally, conflicts can be solved via two models; circle of conflict and triangle of satisfaction (Susan Holton, 1998).