Conflict Management



Conflict management is the process of identifying and handling disagreements or disputes in a fair and efficient manner, aiming to minimize negative impacts and promote positive outcomes. 

Conflict management involves using various strategies and techniques to address disagreements, whether in personal relationships, workplaces, or organizations.

Conflict management is an umbrella term for the way we identify and handle conflicts fairly and efficiently. The goal is to minimize the potential negative impacts that can arise from disagreements and increase the odds of a positive outcome.

Conflict can lead to

  • Negative emotions
  • Block communication
  • Increased negative stereotyping
  • Reduce coordination
  • Encouragement of autocratic leadership
  • Breakdown in empathy and vision

Purpose of conflict

  • Conflict between competitors to maintain the efficiency
  • Conflict between buyer and seller to maintain the price
  • Conflict between candidate for a job to maintain the job market and the employee efficiency
  • Conflict between team leaders for the optimum solution

Conflict may be harmful and it should be avoided, it a natural and inevitable outcome in any group and the conflict is a positive force necessary for a group to perform effectively
Conflict may be positive as it gives releasing of pressure and frustration, revealing of new alternatives, increasing the cohesiveness, challenge compliance and the change.



Laten stage

The latent stage of conflict is the initial phase where underlying tensions and potential disagreements exist, but are not yet openly expressed or recognized as a conflict. It's a period of "unstable peace" where differences of viewpoint and things that bother individuals or parts of a group, but are not great enough to upset the status.

Perceived stage

In the perceived stage of conflict, individuals become aware of a disagreement or potential threat, recognizing differences in goals or values, but the conflict may not yet be felt emotionally. 

Felt stage

The "felt" stage of conflict is where individuals become emotionally involved and experience the conflict personally, leading to feelings of tension, stress, anxiety, or even anger, as they personalize the conflict and react emotionally.

Manifest stage

In the context of conflict resolution, the "manifest stage" signifies the point where the conflict becomes openly visible and overt, characterized by disagreements, arguments, or even avoidance, as opposed to being latent or hidden. 

Aftermath stage

The aftermath stage of conflict, the fifth stage in many models, focuses on the consequences and outcomes of the conflict, whether resolved or unresolved, and its impact on relationships and future interactions. 


Positive Impact of Conflict

Negative Impact of Conflict

Increase creativity and innovation

Reduced productivity

Improved problem solving

Increased stress and anxiety

Clarification of issues

Damaged relationship

Increase participation and commitment

Reduced moral and cohesion

 

Financial cost


Conflict Resolution



Conflict resolution  is a way for two or more parties to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement among the them. the disagreement may be personal, financial, political, or emotional. when a dispute arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the disagreement.

There are five models to resolve the conflicts. They are as follows.
  1. Assessment: collect appropriate information regarding the problem
  2. Acknowledgement: each party here out the other
  3. Attitude: create open mind state towards all parties involved
  4. Action: actively implement the chosen conflict-handling mode
  5. Analysis: summarize and review the agreement

Important of resolving conflict

If two or more parties struggle to resolve their conflict, these feelings may lead to explosive behaviors and resentment. Communication, emotional awareness and empathy are crucial elements of conflict resolution that can lead to high-functioning and more satisfying relationships in all aspects of life.

Conclusion

By getting on the challenges of resolving conflict, the results of improved interdisciplinary communication, relationships, and job satisfaction; minimized stress, workgroup cohesiveness, increased staff retention, empowered and autonomous staff, and improved patient outcomes are achievable to some extent.. Ultimately, the success of a healthcare organization may depend on how well it attends to conflict and its resolution.


References

Padrutt, J., 2010. Resolving conflict—Now more important than ever. Nursing Management, 41(1), pp.52-54.

Lewin, D., 2008. Resolving conflict. The Sage handbook of industrial relations, pp.447-468.

Yuzuki, R., Hata, H. and Matsumoto, K., 2015, March. How we resolve conflict: an empirical study of method-level conflict resolution. In 2015 IEEE 1st International Workshop on Software Analytics (SWAN) (pp. 21-24). IEEE.













Comments

  1. Wijaya24 March 2025 at 10:29

    agree with your description on positive and negative impact on conflict. the success of an organization may depend on how well it attends to conflict and its resolution.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shemini Dharmaratne24 March 2025 at 11:37

    Conflict management is essential for maintaining a positive work environment. By addressing disagreements constructively, fostering open communication, and finding mutually beneficial solutions, organizations can prevent issues from escalating and enhance team collaboration. Great focus on this important aspect of workplace dynamics.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Evans Nanayakkara24 March 2025 at 18:52

    Conflicts bring a bad outcome and never a better outcome. So under HRM, conflicts management should be treated well. Unless the whole organization will be on trouble and be unsuccessful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Chalani Thilakaratne25 March 2025 at 02:14

    An unavoidable issue at any company. conflicts are to arise at various occations under different conditions. But proper conflict management will avoid any damage to the company and keep you away from losses.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shankanee Illangarathna26 March 2025 at 03:20

    Conflict management helps address disputes constructively, improving communication, reducing stress, and boosting collaboration. It fosters better employee relations and increases productivity by resolving issues before they escalate.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Udara Dananjaya5 April 2025 at 05:26

    Handling problems fairly and effectively leads to better relationships and stronger teams.

    ReplyDelete

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