What is Organizational conflict? | Types, Sources, Resolution

Summary

This video explains organizational conflict, covering its types, sources, and resolution strategies. It breaks down the three primary conflict levels: individual, group, and organizational. The video highlights common sources of conflict, such as differing interests, goals, and psychological factors. It also discusses conflict resolution through both preventive and curative measures, such as effective leadership, communication, and mediation. The content is aimed at helping viewers understand how conflicts emerge in the workplace and how they can be addressed to improve productivity and organizational harmony.

Takeaways

• 😀 Organizational conflict is a disagreement between individuals or groups within an organization, often due to shared resources, differing goals, or contrasting values.
• 😀 Conflict can occur at three levels: individual, group, and organizational.
• 😀 Individual conflict arises when a person's internal dissatisfaction affects job performance, such as when two individuals compete for the same promotion.
• 😀 Group-level conflicts can be classified as intragroup (within the group) or intergroup (between different groups), often resulting from differences in goals or resources.
• 😀 Organizational conflict includes both intergroup and individual conflicts that affect the larger organizational structure, such as management vs. shop floor or union vs. union conflicts.
• 😀 Conflicts often stem from perceived or actual incompatibilities of interests, where one party’s gain may lead to another’s dissatisfaction.
• 😀 People may disagree over facts, goals, methods, or values, which can lead to conflict when interests and perceptions differ.
• 😀 Psychological factors, such as insecurity, misunderstandings, and poor situation handling, often play a significant role in generating conflict.
• 😀 Conflict resolution can be approached with preventive measures, including effective leadership, participative decision-making, two-way communication, and improving interpersonal relationships.
• 😀 Curative measures for conflict resolution involve understanding the issue, analyzing the conflict, and applying conflict handling modes like problem-solving, mediation, and sometimes policy changes.
• 😀 The last resort in conflict resolution is creating new policies or letting parties resolve the issue themselves if all other methods fail.

Q & A

What is organizational conflict?

Organizational conflict refers to a disagreement between two or more members or groups within an organization. It arises from the need to share scarce resources, different goals, values, or perceptions, and can occur at individual, group, or organizational levels.

How does organizational conflict affect productivity?

Conflicts negatively impact the efficiency and productivity of both individuals and groups within an organization. When conflicts arise, it leads to reduced focus, collaboration, and overall performance.

What are the three types of organizational conflict?

The three main types of organizational conflict are: 1) **Individual Conflict**, which occurs within a person; 2) **Group Level Conflict**, which can be intragroup (within a group) or intergroup (between different groups); and 3) **Organizational Conflict**, which involves conflicts between different organizations or between an organization and external bodies like governments.

Can you explain individual conflict in more detail?

Individual conflict typically involves internal struggles or frustrations within a person due to unmet needs. It can also manifest as **interindividual conflict**, where two individuals clash over issues like competition for a promotion.

What is the difference between intragroup and intergroup conflict?

Intragroup conflict occurs within a single group due to differences over goals, opinions, or methods. Intergroup conflict, on the other hand, arises between different groups in the organization, typically due to competition for resources, power, or differing objectives.

What are the main sources of conflict within organizations?

Conflicts within organizations generally arise from incompatible interests, differing goals, facts, methods, and values. Psychological factors such as insecurity, misunderstandings, and lack of appreciation also contribute to conflict.

How do psychological factors contribute to organizational conflict?

Psychological factors like insecurity, lack of appreciation, misunderstandings, and poor handling of situations can significantly exacerbate conflicts. These factors often lead to negative emotions and behaviors, which fuel further disagreements.

What are the preventive measures to manage conflict?

Preventive measures include: 1) Developing effective leadership, 2) Encouraging participative decision-making, 3) Promoting two-way communication systems, 4) Improving interpersonal relationships, and 5) Providing informal group development opportunities.

What is the first step in resolving a conflict once it has arisen?

The first step in resolving an existing conflict is to analyze the conflict and determine its stage, whether it's in the preliminary or advanced phase. This helps to understand how much effort is required for resolution.

What are some conflict handling modes that can be used to resolve disputes?

There are several conflict handling modes, including: 1) **Problem-solving**, where both parties collaborate to find a solution, 2) **Mediation**, where management tries to smooth over differences through persuasion, and 3) **Appeal**, which is the final step if other methods fail, involving higher authorities to resolve the conflict.