Workplace Conflict Definition

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Recommended: A brief description of workplace conflict

WORKPLACE CONFLICT DEFINED
According to Roloff (1987), workplace conflict can be defined as “conflict that occurs when members engage in activities that are incompatible with those of colleagues within their network, members of other collectivities, or unaffiliated individuals who utilize the products or services of the organization” (p. 496). Similarly, a more recent definition by Miller and King identify conflict as basically “a disagreement between two or more individuals or groups over compatible goals” which may “involve the interference or disruption by one person or group of persons, or in some way or ways which make another action less likely to be effective.”

TYPES OF WORKPLACE CONFLICT There are various types or levels of conflict existing in the work environment including relationship, task and process conflict. Definitions of the aforementioned types of conflict are: (1) Relationship conflict can be defined as an awareness of interpersonal incompatibilities, includes affective components such as feeling tension and friction. Relationship conflict involves personal issues such as dislike among group members and feelings such as annoyance, frustration, and irritation (Jehn, …show more content…

The engines of conflict stem from a plethora of factors including individual (differences in personal goals, commitment, autonomy, cultural differences) and interpersonal (poor communication, scarce resources, incompatible work styles, role conflict) characteristics.
Individual factors
Conflicting goals is one such factor. When goals (aspirations) are high (because of a person’s past achievements, perceived power, societal norms, peers’ accomplishments), a person is more likely to come into conflict with another. Even moderate goals, if rigid, (e.g., the goal to avoid humiliation) can generate conflict (Kaplowitz,

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