What is the best way to manage conflicts?

What should you do when a conflict takes over your group? Should you encourage members to deal, up front and directly, with their dispute? Or is it best to just look the other way and let the hard feeling fade with the passage of time?

Carsten De Dreu
And his colleagues suggested that collaborative approaches sometimes aggravate the group conflict more than they molify it. Negative and collaborative methods of dealing with conflicts were both associated with negative team functioning Only avoiding responses were associated with increases in group adjustment to the conflict

Avoidance
Either we play or we fight. Sometimes, the best way to deal with someone who is disagreeable, irritating, or aggravating is to ignore the conflict and focus instead on the work to be done.

Tit For Tat Strategy

Cooperation is met with cooperation and competition with competition A provocable, forgiving and reciprocal strategy TFT is less effective when:
Theres any delay in responding to cooperation If a group member competes is not countered quickly its in a noisy interaction or larger groups

Mediators
Help group members reach a mutually agreeable solution to their dispute Inquisitorial Procedure: mediator questions the two parties and hands down a verdict that the two parties must accept Arbitration: the disputants present their arguments to the mediator, who then bases his or her decision on the information they provide Moot: the disputants and the mediator openly and informally discuss problems and solutions, but the mediator can make no binding decisions

 NOTE: if the disputants want to resolve the conflict on their own terms, third-party interventions are considered an unwanted intrusion

Composure
Positive affective responses increase concession making, creative problem solving, cooperation, and the use of non-contenious bargaining strategies Hence, when tempers flare, the group should encourage members to regain control over their emotions

Ways in reducing conflicts

Count to ten technique Calling a time out Expressing concerns in a written (and carefully edited) letter or email Humor into the group discussion Apologies Developing norms that prohibit shows of strong, negative emotion

Value of Conflict
Conflict is a natural consequence of joining a group It is also an undeniably powerful process in groups
For example, the Apple company

Insofar as conflict is resolved successfully, it could stabilized the group and serve as a unifying force

Advantages of Conflict
Expands the range of options Generates new alternatives Enhances the groups unity Make group goals explicit Help members understand their role in the group better

Disadvantages of Conflict
Can do more harm than good Undermines satisfaction Disrupts performance Engenders negative emotions Can trigger violence

Types of conflict
Relationship conflict: causes interpersonal disruptions Task conflict: stimulate members to improve the way they work together

Summary

What is conflict? Conflict: actions and beliefs of one or more members of the group are unacceptable to and resisted by the other members Intergroup conflict: involves two or more groups Intragroup conflict: occurs within a group Follows a cycle from conflict escalation to resolution

What are the sources of conflict in groups? 1. Most common sources are competition, conflicts over the distribution of resources, power struggles, decisional conflicts, and personal conflicts 2. Competition creates conflict by pitting members against one another, whereas cooperation leads to mutual gain

 Mixed-motive situations stimulate conflict for it tempt individuals to compete rather than cooperate Norm of reciprocity encourages responding to competition by competing Those with a social values orientation are more likely to compete than are those with cooperative or individualistic orientations Both sexes use more contentius influence methods when paired with a man

3. Social dilemmas tempt members to act in their own self interest to the detriment of the group and its goals Disputes arise when one or more member:
Exploit a shared resource Do not contribute their share in a dilemma Disagree on how to divide up resources Do not agree on the norms to follow when appointing resources Avoid blame for group failure or take too much personal responsibility for group success

4. Members respond negatively to perceived mistreatment because it calls into question their status and inclusion 5. Power struggles: members vie for control over leadership, status, and position 6. Substantive conflict stems from disagreements about issues that are relevant to the groups goals and outcomes 7. Procedural conflict occur when members do not agree on group strategies, policies, and methods

8. Personal conflict occurs when individual members do not like one another
Any factor that causes disaffection between group members can increase personal conflict More prevalent in diverse groups Balance theory predicts that group members will respond negatively when they disagree with those they like or agree with those they dislike

Why does conflict escalate? 1. Once conflict begins, it often intensifies before it begins 2. When individuals defend their viewpoints, they become more committed to their positions 3. Conflict is exacerbated by members tendency to misperceive others and to assume that the other partys behavior is caused by personal rather than situational factors

4. Conflict between individuals escalated when each side could threaten the other 5. Other factors that contributes to conflict
Negative reciprocity, as when negative actions provoke negative reactions in other Formation of coalitions that embroil formerly neutral members in the conflict Angry emotions that trigger expressions of anger by others

How can group members manage their conflict? 1. By negotiation, to identify the issues underlying the dispute and work together to identify a satisfying solution to both sides 2. By actively communicating information about their motives and goals through discussion

3. Avoiding, yielding, fighting, and cooperating

Cooperation is more likely to promote group unity than all other tactics Personal conflicts may not yield to cooperative negotiations

4. Tit for tat strategy 5. Mediators can reduce conflict by imposing solutions or guiding disputants to a compromise 6. Positive affective responses reduce conflict

Does conflict, when resolved, lead to improved group functioning? Conflict is a natural consequence of joining a group and cannot be avoided completely Conflicts, when resolved successfully, can promote group functioning, but in general, conflict can do more harm than good

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