Lecture Art of Leadership and Motivation - Lecture 16 - Trường Đại học Công nghiệp Thực phẩm Tp. Hồ Chí Minh

 conflicts are expected between human beings.  conflicts are often beneficial[r]

Prof Dr Mohammad Majid Mahmood

HRM – 760 Lecture ­ 16

Management in 

Organizations­II

What we know….

Conflict is a naturally occurring phenomenon for  human beings

People do not get involved in conflict situations  unless they have some stake in the relationship or  outcome or both

One can never truly resolve conflict, one can only  manage conflict

The costs of unmanaged conflict can be high, but  the gains from using differences creatively can also 

be great

Conflict can either be productive or destructive 

What we know….

Why & how do we get in

conflict situations?

People differ… so they: 

See things differently

Want different things

Have different thinking styles, which prompts them to disagree Are predisposed to disagree

Have different personalities

Have different status

Have different goals

Are influenced by fear, force, fairness or funds

The Facts:  present situation, problems

The Goals:  how things ought to be, the future conditions  sought

The Methods:  the best, the easiest, the quickest, the most  ethical

The Values:   the beliefs about priorities that should be  observed in choosing goals & methods

The History:  what has gone on before 

Theories of Conflict

Traditional Theory

 conflicts are caused by trouble-makers

 conflicts are bad

 conflicts should be avoided

Modern Theory

 conflicts are expected between human beings

 conflicts are often beneficial

 conflicts are the natural result of change

 conflicts can and should be managed

– People's style for a completing job can differ

– e.g. one person may just want to get the work done quickly (task  oriented), while another is more concerned about having it done a  particular way e.g. artistic

Differences in Background/Gender

– Conflicts can arise between people because of differences in  educational backgrounds, personal experiences, gender and political  preferences. 

Differences in Personality

– This type of conflict is often fueled by emotion and perceptions  about somebody else's motives and character. 

– e.g. a team leader jumps on someone for being late because he  perceives the team member as being lazy. The team member sees the  team leader as being irrational

–  A person's job depends on someone else's co­operation, output or  input

–  E.g., a sales­person is constantly late inputting the monthly sales  figures which causes the accountant to be late with her reports. 

Differences in Leadership

– Leaders have different styles. Employees who change from one  supervisor to another can become confused 

– E.g  one leader may be more open and delegates responsibility  while another may be more directive. For an employee, it becomes 

a conflict situation. 

Types of Conflict