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The Significance of Organizational Conflict

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The Significance of Organizational Conflict
u08a1 The Significance of Organizational Conflict

As it is with all people, organizations experience conflict as well. In fact, conflict is impossible to avoid. At some point every one and in every environment, company, agency, and organization will experience some form of conflict. Whenever individuals engage with one another, the potential for conflict is present. Conflict is an unavoidable aspect of organizational life and can cause a substantial impact on individuals within the organizations, and organizations themselves (Ryan, Castro, 2004). Conflict is said to be “the spice of life” (Lewicki & Spencer, 1986-1998). It is prevalent and unavoidable in organizations as workers compete for recognition, praise, and promotion. Departments compete for resources and services, and divisions disagree with corporate decisions (Lewicki & Spencer, 1986-1998).
As difficult as conflict can appear to be to deal with, it can be very affective, it can not only affect the individuals within the organizations, it can also affect their interactions with their co workers, their moral, productivity, creativity, performance, outlook, and attitudes. Conflict can affect the success of a department, and an entire organization. Because conflict is unavoidable, what is important is to determine how to use it in a positive and proactive way. Learning from conflict is one of the strongest strategies organizations can use to help them grow and learn. It is important for organizations to use conflict when it occurs to learn how to improve from its presence.
In order to improve from the affects of conflict, one must first understand its complexities. There are some characteristics within organizations that may even affect how individuals manage conflict. Some of the things that cause conflict within organizations is structural conditions .Environments within an organization can cause conflict. For example, within a highly competitive environment, conflict and stress are usually



Bibliography: Bovey, W.H, Hede, A. (2001). Resistance to organizational change: the model of cognitive and affective processes. Leadershorg Dev J. 22 (8): 372-382. Lewicki, R., Spencer, G., (1986-1988). Conflict and negotiation in organizations: Introduction and overview. Journal of Orgazational Behavior (1986-1998): May 1992; B, 3; ProQuest Psychology Journals, pg 205. McIlduff, E., Coghlan, D. (2000). Understanding and contending with passive aggressive behavior in terms of organizations. J. Manage Psychol 15 (7): 716-732. Rahim, M.A. (2002). Toward a theory of managing gorganizational conflict. Intrnational Journal of Conflict Mgt; 2002; 13, 3; ProQuest Psychology Journals pg 206. Raza, S., Standing, C. (2011). A systematic model for managing an devaluating conflicts in organizational change. Roloff, M.E., (1987). Communication and conflict. INC.R. Berger & S.H. Cahaffee (Eds). Handbook of communication science (pp 484-534). Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Ryan, S. and Castro, S. (2004). Conflict within organizations. Florida, Atlantic University.

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