Group Conflicts
Conflict is referred to as a misunderstanding between two parties on a particular issue within the organization. Examples of conflicts include misunderstanding regarding the sharing of organizationalresources, heading of positions within an organization, assigning of tasks as well as during decision making. Conflicts arise when the interests of the two conflicting parties that are conflicting are different or not the same(George 49).
When conflict is good for teams
Conflicts make employeesstrongerduring arguments. Employees that do not stand for their rights remain neglected and invisible to superior members. Conflicts thus enableemployees' voices to be heard. Team members also get a deeper understanding about an issue during conflicts. This is done when both conflicting members are given a chance to talk or to state their standing point. Issues can also be brainstormed on at this stage during conflicts. For example, conflicting members can state the pros and cons of an act or idea in conflict. Since members are given a chance to talk, the listeners such as other tea members will get a chance to learn as well as to contribute with regards to what they think is right and what they think is wrong. Conflicts also empower employees to become better communicatorsand contributors within the organization (Afzalur 123).
Conflict encourages openness and communication between conflicting parties. Here, members can vent out their views as well as listen to what others have to say. Conflicts also prevent organizational mistakes. If a member identifies an act of another member that might lead to a mistake within the group or organization, a member will come up with a view that will stop the act or bar the idea of the other member. For example, if a decision from an incompetent senior member will lead to organizational failure, the incompetent member may be demoted or barred from making major decisions in future within the organizational(George 49).
Conditions under which conflicts may be regarded to be good for team members
Conflicts are good as long as team membersdo not turn violent or hate each other. Conflicts should thus be conducted in an orderly and professional manner. Some organizations also allow conflicts because they lead to organizational growth and they encourage constructive communication. Conflicts can also be good it the outcome of the conflict will be positive(Afzalur 123).
The different kinds of group conflict
The different types of group conflicts are;
- Intra-group conflict is conflicts within a group itself. This is thus conflict amongst groupmembers. Here, members can conflict regarding issues such as who should lead the group.
- Inter-group conflict is conflicts between two groups or conflicts between members from different groups.
- Interpersonal conflict is conflict between two people within a group. This type of conflict can be an argument between two people where one is proposing an idea and the other is opposing it.
- Task conflicts arise as a result of who should conduct a task or when the task should be conducted.
- Process conflicts arise when there is a disagreement about the method or way in which a task should be conducted or completed.