Page 40 - DMGT519_Conflict Management and Negotiation Skills

Conflict Management and Negotiation Skills

Notes Understanding the prevailing decision-making dynamics is an important element in determining
the most effective way in which to gather and utilize-information in your various environments,
especially when you’re involved in an uncomfortable situation that could become one of the
two things: a full-blown conflict or a harmonious working relationship.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
8. Conflict management is a basic management responsibility that focuses mainly on reducing
conflict.
9. Dysfunctionally low conflict within a group can reduce innovation and new ideas.
10. The design of an organization can affect the potential of intraorganization and intergroup
conflict.
11. Manifest conflict is the emotional part of a conflict episode.
12. Conflict episodes are independent of each other.

13. Conflict orientations typically do not change during a conflict episode.
14. Scarce resources such as money, computer equipment, and copying machines are common
latent conflicts in organizations.

15. Organizational cultures differ in the value they place on conflict.

2.8 Summary

 Conflict is inescapable in interdependent relationship where the actions of one party have
consequences for the other, and vice-versa.
 Conflict occurs when individuals are not able to choose among the available alternative
courses of action.

 Conflict carries a negative connotation and those engaging in conflict experience a sense
of guilt. There is no cause for guilt where the conflict is functional and legitimate.

 The human relations view dominated the conflict theory from late 1940s through mid-
1970s.
 Conflict is not necessarily a cost for the individuals. But the conflicts may weaken the
organization as a whole
 Conflict often creates a climate of distrust and suspicion among the members of the group
as well as the organization.
 Sometimes conflict can cause high level of tensions among the individuals and groups and
a stage may come when it becomes difficult for the management to resolve the conflict.
2.9 Keywords

Challenge: Conflict tests the abilities and capacities of the individuals and groups. It creates
challenges for them for which they have to be dynamic and creative. If they are able to overcome
the challenge, it will lead to search for alternatives to existing patterns which leads to
organizational change and development.

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