Posts: 755
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Joined: Oct 2010
Discuss the measures through which group conflicts can be managed.
Posts: 755
Threads: 467
Joined: Oct 2010
The management should function in such a way so as to maximise the coordination of human resources and work system and to minimise conflict. There may be two approaches for managing organisational conflict—preventive measures and curative measures. These measures may be following:
(1) Establishing Common Goals—Existence of common goals will reduce the occurrence of group conflicts. The basic strategy is to find goals upon which groups can agree to re-establish valid communication between the groups. The mutual dependence of groups can be brought through the superordinate goals because these goals arc of high value to groups. Goal differentiation can also be reduced through the use of incentive systems.
(2) Changing Structural Arrangement—Group conflicts can be reduced by change in organisation structure. These may be done in following ways:
(a) Reduction in Interdependences.
(b) Reduction in shared resources.
© Creation of special integrations to solve unresolved matters through them.
(d) Reference to Superior's Authority or hierarchy to resolve the conflicts.
(3) Conflict Resolution Behaviour—The actual behaviours through which conflicts can be resolved, represent a number of alternatives. According to March and Simon, an organisation may read to conflict by problem solving, persuations, bargaining and politics. Some major behaviours in conflict resolution take place in the following way:
(1) Problem Solving—where conflict is based on misunderstanding of the parties concerned
(2) Avoidance— i.e., parties to the conflict may withdraw from the conflict
(3) Smoothing— i.e., playing down differences that exist between individuals or groups
(4) Compromise
(5) Bargaining.