Reference no: EM133527413
Problem
Read the following case:
Choose your battles
While the ideal way to resolve a conflict is to use methods that lead us to achieve harmonious relationships, it is also important to remember that there are situations in which a small conflict becomes a big problem. As noted in creative problem-solving teams, the existence of some level of task conflict early in the solution formulation process could be an important stimulus for creativity and innovation. However, the conditions must be correct for a productive conflict to occur. In particular, individuals must feel psychologically safe expressing problems for discussion. If people believe that what they say will be held against them, they may be reluctant to speak up or cause problems.
• They should talk about what is possible,
• Be urgent and
• Involve uncertainty.
So how should a manager "pick a fight"? First, he must ensure that what is at stake is sufficient to justify the alteration. Secondly, he should focus on the future and how to resolve the conflict rather than on finding blame. Third, he must relate the conflict to fundamental values. Instead of focusing on winning or losing, it is better to get both parties to see that successfully exploring and resolving the conflict will produce optimal results for everyone. With successful management, some degree of explicit disagreement can be an important way for companies to manage related and potentially destructive conflicts. Do these principles work in real organizations? The answer is yes.Burlington Northern Santa Fe, but by applying these conflict management principles, the company was able to adopt a more advanced system and regain its competitive position in the transportation industry.
Analysis questions:
Question 1. What would you do to ensure sufficient discussion of controversial topics in a work group? What can managers do to bring hidden conflicts to light without aggravating them?
Question 2. What can negotiators do to take advantage of conflict management strategies so that differences in interests do not lead to dysfunctional conflicts but rather positive integrative solutions?
Question 3. Can you think of situations in your life in which silence has aggravated a conflict between the parties? What would you have done differently to allow open communication to facilitate collaboration?