Conflict management

refers to the long-term management of intractable conflicts. It is the label for

the variety of ways by which people handle grievancesstanding up for what
they consider to be right and against what they consider to be wrong. Those
ways include such diverse phenomena as gossip, ridicule, lynching, terrorism,
warfare, feuding, genocide, law, mediation, and avoidance. [citation

needed]

Which

forms of conflict management will be used in any given situation can be

somewhat predicted and explained by the social structureor social
geometryof the case.

Conflict management is often considered to be distinct from conflict resolution.

In order for actual conflict to occur, there should be an expression of exclusive
patterns, and tell why the conflict was expressed the way it was. Conflict is not
just about simple inaptness, but is often connected to a previous issue. The
latter refers to resolving the dispute to the approval of one or both parties,
whereas the former concerns an ongoing process that may never have a
resolution. Neither is it considered the same as conflict transformation, which
seeks to reframe the positions of the conflict parties.

Definition
A basic definition of organizational conflict is disagreement by individuals or groups within
the organization, which can centre on factors ranging from resource allocation and divisions
of responsibility to the overall direction of the organization.
A common example of organizational conflict occurs when workers advocate for higher pay
and the business owner or management wants pay levels to remain the same
Causes of Organizational Conflict
Managerial Expectations
It is the job of an employee to meet the expectations of his manager, but if those expectations
are misunderstood, conflict can arise. Managers need to spend time clearly communicating
their goals to employees and then confirming those goals in writing. A manager should also
encourage her employees to ask questions about their goals, and hold regular meetings to
discuss the goals and how best to reach them.

Breakdown in Communication
If a department requires information from another department in order to do its job, and the
second department does not respond to the request for information, a conflict can arise. Some
interdepartmental disagreements might trigger a nonresponsive attitude that can quickly
become an internal conflict. Another way of creating this sort of conflict is by giving a
circular response such as an issue being perpetually "under review." When people or
departments are late in responding to information requests, or they are withholding
information on purpose, it is best to address the situation immediately with a personal
meeting with both sides to resolve the situation.
Misunderstanding the Information
According to mediation expert Robert D. Benjamin, writing on Mediate.com, internal conflict
can sometimes arise as the result of a simple misunderstanding. One person may
misunderstand information, and that can trigger a series of conflicts. In order to deal with this
kind of situation, it is best to have the person admit her misunderstanding and work with the
affected parties to remedy the situation. For example, if the production manager
misunderstands the product manufacturing goals, then the sales manager may not have
enough product to sell. Taking responsibility for a mistake can quickly defuse a potential
organizational conflict.
Lack of Accountability
Organizational conflict might arise from frustration. One source of frustration is a lack of
accountability. If something has gone wrong, and no one is willing to take responsibility for
the problem, this lack of accountability can start to permeate throughout the entire company
until the issue is resolved. One way to combat a lack of accountability is to have anyone who
comes into contact with a document sign his name to it and include the date. The paper trail
may sometimes find the source of the problem, which can then be addressed.
Types of conflicts

Interpersonal conflict refers to a conflict between two individuals. This occurs

typically due to how people are different from one another. We have varied personalities
which usually results to incompatible choices and opinions. Apparently, it is a natural
occurrence which can eventually help in personal growth or developing your
relationships with others. In addition, coming up with adjustments is necessary for

managing this type of conflict. However, when interpersonal conflict gets too destructive,
calling in a mediator would help so as to have it resolved.

Intrapersonal conflict occurs within an individual. The experience takes place in the
persons mind. Hence, it is a type of conflict that is psychological involving the
individuals thoughts, values, principles and emotions. Interpersonal conflict may come
in different scales, from the simpler mundane ones like deciding whether or not to go
organic for lunch to ones that can affect major decisions such as choosing a career path.
Furthermore, this type of conflict can be quite difficult to handle if you find it hard to
decipher your inner struggles. It leads to restlessness and uneasiness, or can even cause
depression. In such occasions, it would be best to seek a way to let go of the anxiety
through communicating with other people. Eventually, when you find yourself out of the
situation, you can become more empowered as a person. Thus, the experience evoked a
positive change which will help you in your own personal growth.

Intragroup conflict is a type of conflict that happens among individuals within a

team. The incompatibilities and misunderstandings among these individuals lead to an
intragroup conflict. It is arises from interpersonal disagreements (e.g. team members have
different personalities which may lead to tension) or differences in views and ideas (e.g.
in a presentation, members of the team might find the notions presented by the one
presiding to be erroneous due to their differences in opinion). Within a team, conflict can
be helpful in coming up with decisions which will eventually allow them to reach their
objectives as a team. However, if the degree of conflict disrupts harmony among the
members, then some serious guidance from a different party will be needed for it to be
settled.

Intergroup conflict takes place when a misunderstanding arises among different

teams within an organization. For instance, the sales department of an organization can
come in conflict with the customer support department. This is due to the varied sets of
goals and interests of these different groups. In addition, competition also contributes for
intergroup conflict to arise. There are other factors which fuel this type of conflict. Some
of these factors may include a rivalry in resources or the boundaries set by a group to
others which establishes their own identity as a team.