Page 33 - DMGT519_Conflict Management and Negotiation Skills

Unit 2: Nature of Conflict

2.5 Levels of Conflict Notes

Conflict contained within reasonable limits, thus, serve several useful purposes and can be
functional for individuals, groups and to the institution. However, if conflict is allowed to
develop beyond control, it could tend to become destructive, resulting in such averse situations
as strikes, sabotage and other dysfunctional behaviour. There should be an optimum level of
conflict that is very useful for the development of creativity, high problem-solving behaviours

and productivity. This optimum level is depicted in the following Figure:

Figure 2.2

HIGH

Optimum
Level of
conflict

LOW
LOW HIGH
Level of Conflict

Too little conflict creates conditions of inertia, and boredom in the system and excessive conflict
results in destructive and dysfunctional tendencies, thus, conflict has to be managed. Managers
have to motivate the level of conflict in the system. If there is too little or no conflict at all, they
may even have to induce some levels of conflict to energise the system. As the level of conflict
tends to go beyond the optimum level, the manager must act to resolve the conflict in such a
manner that will be beneficial to the organization.

!
Caution Conflict in the workplace can be incredibly destructive to good teamwork.
Managed in the wrong way, real and legitimate differences between people can quickly spiral
out of control, resulting in situations where co-operation breaks down and the team’s mission is
threatened. This is particularly the case where the wrong approaches to conflict resolution are
used.
To calm these situations down, it helps to take a positive approach to conflict resolution, where
discussion is courteous and non-confrontational, and the focus is on issues rather than on
individuals. If this is done, then, as long as people listen carefully and explore facts, issues and
possible solutions properly, conflict can often be resolved effectively.

2.6 Conflict Continuum

At each end of the continuum, is an extreme peace and war. A state of peace is a state of
compassion. A state of war is a state of the ultimate conflict, the most negative extreme, where
there is physical hostility leading to death. Wars can take place between countries, tribes, drug
kings, gangs, corporations, partners and individuals. Whatever the circumstances, they will all
have the common denominator of complete breakdown in communication and a refusal to see
the “other” as a human being who has the right to life.

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