The Role of Conflicts in an Organisation

Conflict as a Catalyst for Change
Ashaki Dore, Lecturer, Trinidad and Tobago, Member
Conflict is a catalyst for change which brings issues to the fore and allows for the inclusion of multiple actors. Moreover, conflict allows us to go beyond resolution and management of conflict because not all conflict can be resolved; instead it leads us to conflict transformation, where the positive side of conflict is addressed.

Advantages of Conflicts in Organisations
Leena Bissoonauth, Student (University), Mauritius, Member
Conflict is essential in rising to a challenge because it is through conflict that our existing beliefs, habits, rituals and routines are questioned, tested and evaluated.
Conflict is necessary to stimulate passion: and passionate people drive success in every organisation.
The stimulation of conflict initiates the search for new means and goals and clears the way for innovation
The successful solution of a conflict leads to greater effectiveness, to more trust and openness, to greater attraction of members towards each other, and to depersonalization of future conflicts.

Positive Effects of Organizational Conflicts
Christina Veasey, Teacher, United Kingdom, Member
All this is really about not being a doormat or a victim! So to use some of the great words already provided...
Conflict is a catalyst for change, and can be essential in rising to any challenge. Importantly conflict stimulates passion and it is, without doubt, passionate people who drive success in every organisation.
Essentially conflict resolution can effectively defeat internal politics and destructive cultures. Hence in discussing our perceptions of behaviour, we share and expose existing beliefs, habits, rituals and routines which work for or against us as individuals. Hence they can be questioned, tested, evaluated and with goodwill be improved across groups.
Conflict equally provides opportunity and stimulation, initiating new means and goals by clearing the way for more innovative effectiveness, more openness and trust. Thus attracting participants towards each other and creating a framework for the potential depersonalisation of future conflicts!

Understanding Difference of Opinion and Conflict
Ranjeet Menon, Project Manager, India, Member
When a difference of opinion is taken personally, the situation descends into what we call as a conflict. No two individuals are the same, so we are all entitled to have different opinions and taken in the right way, that is good because that is how we are able to come across different perspectives and find the best way forward.
But conflicts seldom give positive outcomes.
So we should nurture differences of opinion in a positive way and suppress our need to make them personal.

The Role of Internal Politics in Maintaining Dynamism
Nassir Mozdic Jamal Dr., Management Consultant, Kenya, Member
@Ranjeet Menon: Why would a seasoned manager who has a flair in human psychology be keen to end in internal politics? One should cherish convergence in divergent ideas. Good for innovations...

The Impact of Conflicts on the Image of an Organization
Moussa, Student (University), Cameroon, Member
Conflicts within organizations can also lead to a bad reputation of this organization, specially for those dealing with external customers. It can be considered as an opportunity for the organization to improve, but only when handled early. Otherwise, like domino stones, it can lead to a big reputational impact.

Change = (Conflict + Consensus) * Coercion
melvin cordez, Teacher, Philippines, Member
Conflict is the initiator of change in an organization. It is just how the Organization handles it. Don't worry, consensus will follow but it will be anchored to the most coercive element of the organization, not always the majority, but with the best justification.

Conflicts not to Be Confused with Politics
Ranjeet Menon, Project Manager, India, Member
@Nassir Mozdic Jamal Dr.: Conflicts are not to be confused with politics:

• CONFLICTS are a consequence of any/all human interactions in any form of relationship. Because we are all unique in the way we think and have different opinions, conflicts will hence always exist. If differences of opinions are listened to and considered in a positive way, most conflicts can be avoided. Most conflicts happen when peoples' voices are not heard and they feel undervalued
• POLITICS has always been used as a divide and rule tool. It only increases conflicts, creates negativity and is detrimental to innovation and free thinking in every possible way.

Interestingly, neither conflicts nor politics are good for innovations, only differences of opinion are, because that is when people compete with one another to prove what they believe is right and put in their best efforts to succeed.