Organizational Conflict

1
Organizational Conflict

• A process that occurs when a person or group
  believes that others have or will take action
  that is at odds with their own goals and
  interests.

2
Organizational Sources of Conflict
Group Identification
Differences in Power, Status, Culture
Conflict
Competition over Scarce Resources
Ambiguity over Jurisdiction
3
Interpersonal Causes of Conflict
Faulty Attribution
Faulty Communication
Conflict
Competitive Reward Systems
Personal Characteristics
4
Costs Benefits of Conflict

• Costs of Conflict
• Negative emotions and stress
• Stereotyping
• Faulty decision making

• Benefits of Conflict
• Discussion of problems
• Basis for change
• Increase in motivation and loyalty

5
Managing Conflict

• Bargaining Negotiation -- the process in which
  the parties in dispute make offers and counter
  offers
• Mediation and Arbitration -- third party
  intervention
• Superordinate Goals -- commonality is seen in
  goals and the solution is greater than either
  parties initial goal

6
Aspects of Bargaining

• Framing the issue
• Task orientation
• Emotional orientation
• Cooperative orientation
• Orientation strategy
• Win -- lose
• Win -- win

7
Aspects of Mediation

• Enlarging the pie
• Logrolling
• Cost cutting
• Bridging

8
Stress

• A pattern of behavioral, emotional, and
  physiological reactions that occur in response to
  demanding events (stressors)

9
The Process of Stress
Physiological symptoms
Organizational Factors
Psychological Symptoms
Experienced Stress
Behavioral Symptoms
Individual Factors
10
Stress Factors

• Organizational
• Demanding Jobs
• Competing demands
• Role ambiguity
• Job responsibility
• Isolation
• Unpleasant working conditions

• Individual
• Stressful life events
• Daily stress
• Personality
• Perception

11
Consequences of Stress

• Physiological Symptoms
• Headaches, High blood pressure, Heart disease
• Psychological Symptoms
• Anxiety, Depression, Burnout, Callousness
• Behavioral Symptoms
• Productivity loss
• Withdrawal

12
Managing Stress

• Personal approaches
• Lifestyle, Physiological, Cognitive
• Organizational approaches
• Job redesign
• Social support
• Family friendly policies
• Wellness and EAP Programs

13
Backwards and Forwards.

• Summing up. Today we looked at two side of
  conflict the harmful and the beneficial causes
  and ways to manage conflict, how stress can arise
  from conflict, organizational and individual
  factors in stress, and its resolution.
• Looking ahead. What pushes organizations to
  change, what are the sources of resistance? Next
  time.