**Workshop 8 - Reducing dysfunctional conflict Flashcards
IMPORTANT
What can conflict be described as?
A tension between individuals that can emerge because of real or perceived differences/ one party perceives another party is about to negatively effect something
What are the 4 sources of conflict?
Level 1: facts or data (lack of info or interpret it differently)
Level 2: Processes or methods (disagree on way its done)
Level 3: Purposes or goals (lack of shared vision)
Level 4: Values or beliefs
What is the traditional view of conflict?
All conflicts are bad and they should be avoided, negative outcomes such as reduced satisfaction and tension among members
What is the interactionist view of conflict?
A moderate level of conflict can be beneficial, members will attempt to address problems which will stimulate their creative thinking
- With the absence of conflict, members may not realise inefficiencies.
What is the resolution-focused view of conflict?
That conflicts are unavoidable and thus the focus should be placed on finding productive conflict resolutions
What is relationship conflict?
Recognised interpersonal incompatibilities among group members
- Often regarded as dysfunctional to team performance
- Time and energy spent on individual members, rather than task relevant problems
What is task conflict?
Disagreements among group members about the tasks being performed
- Often regarded as functional to team performance
- Especially when teams are working on non routine tasks
- Encourages members to focus on task relevant problems and scrutinise task issues
What are Killman and Thomas’ 5 conflict styles?
Competing, Collaborating, Compromising, Avoiding and Accommodating
What does it mean when someone is ‘competing’?
A person pursues their own goal at the expense of others
- Can make a vital decision which you know is the right one
- Quick and decisive actions
- Can protect yourself from people who take advantage
- Could cause rushed decisions and increase conflict
What does it mean when someone is ‘avoiding’?
A person does not pursue his/her own concern and those of others
- You may perceive no chance of winning
- Potential costs of confronting conflict may outweigh the benefits
- Can’t get own point across
What does it mean when someone is ‘accommodating’?
A person who neglects his/her own concern to satisfy those of others
- Preserves harmony
- Builds up social credit for later issues
- Good for when an issue is more important to the other person
- Can be slow
What does it mean when someone is ‘collaborating’?
A person pursues a solution that satisfies all parties
- Gain commitment from members for consensus reaching
- All issues are spoken about
- Time consuming to come to an agreement
- Conflicts could arise
What does it mean when someone is ‘compromising’?
A person gives up something in exchange for something else
- Achieve a temporary settlement
- When collaboration or competition fails
- Less tension and increased productivity
- May give up good ideas for other people
What are 4 ways we can resolve conflict?
1) Separate the people from the issue
2) Focus on interests, not positions (remain open to different proposals and positions)
3) Generate options (similar steps to problem solving and decision making)
4) Use objective criteria
