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The Causes of Workplace Conflict

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Added on  2020-02-05

The Causes of Workplace Conflict

   Added on 2020-02-05

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Causes of conflict in
workplace
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The Causes of Workplace Conflict_1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Main body........................................................................................................................................3
1. Concept of conflict at the workplace.......................................................................................3
Causes of conflicts.......................................................................................................................4
2. Key theories.............................................................................................................................6
Impact of conflicts on organization performance .......................................................................9
Ways to prevent conflict ...........................................................................................................10
Approaches to resolve conflicts.................................................................................................11
3. Conceptual framework...........................................................................................................12
4. Designing own questionnaire.................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17
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2.0 INTRODUCTION
Literature review is the most important part of any study because it consists of different
tools and techniques which proves to be effective to collect large amount of information. It
assists researcher to get detail information related to particular topic and accordingly write the
detail description of the same. Generally, literature review is done by taking into account
different sources such as journals, books and online article. Furthermore, other available
information are also considered for writing literature review. The research issues of current study
is to assess causes of workplace conflict. In this regard, different themes will be prepared on the
basis of topic so as to develop better understanding among scholar. Apart from this, theories and
models are incorporated through which ways to integrate personnel can be implemented in the
business organization. It enables corporation to cater need of management as well as other
related parties.
MAIN BODY
2.1. Concept of conflict at the workplace
The conflict at workplace take place because of difference exist among employees in
term of personalities and values. It directly affects business organization because of poor
coordination among them (Abbas and Karage, 2015). This aspect tends to affect performance of
business as company need to focus upon good quality of services. It can be made possible only
with the help of integrated personnel. However, conflict exist between employees and employers
also which is followed by number of reasons (Baillien and De, 2009). Here, sharp disagreement
for opposing interest and ideas become the major reason behind conflict among personnel at
workplace. However, every organization face issue of conflict as people work together to
achieve common goals (Eddy, 2005). It can be beneficial or loss full for business where
management take corrective action to resolve the potential issue.
There are different types of conflicts such as personality differences, non-compliance
with rules and policies as well as misunderstanding. At last, competition remain the most
important form of conflict which many times proves to be good for business (Graham and
Folkes, 2014). However, many a times, conflict creates considerable ambivalence through which
scholar face issue in getting its exact meaning, relevant and ways to manage the same. In
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common parlance, conflict refers to the process whereby one party reflects that its interest is
being opposed by another one. It consists of different aspects such as angry words, actions of
opposition etc which in turn increase the conflict at workplace (Cullen and Hammer, 2007).
Generally, some people try to avoid situation of conflict because of their negative perception
towards the same. However, others perceive it as phenomenon necessary to manage whereas
some of the people consider that conflict provide good opportunity for personal growth
(DOBRE, 2012). It proves to be effective to cater need of buyers and meet their expectations in
an effectual manner.
At workplace, conflicts remain associated with heated debates, high frustration and raised
voices. Owing to this, businesses face issue in term of poor sales turnover, low profitability and
high attrition (Gifford, Gould, Latreille and Urwin, 2016). These kind of issues are resolved by
using appropriate strategy to integrate personnel with giving focus upon their issues. In this
regard, personnel can be invited to provide their suggestions for implementing appropriate
strategy (Jenkins, 2011). Here, they can communicate about problems which they are facing and
proposed solution can be derive from them. Such aspect ensure that management of corporation
respect for employees and ensure their inclusion in the decision making process. However, it
depends on management that how they resolve the issues or conflicts by focusing upon
constructive or poor process (Hershcovis, 2011). Thus, in business world, differences related to
peer group, environment, situation and personality as well as work experience tends to bring
variation in context of value or needs, personal attitudes and belief. All of these factors tend to
affect entire business performance because all individual behave in different manner (Lewis and
Gunn, 2007).
2.2 Critical review analysis of theory
Causes of conflicts
According to Nuzulia and Utami, (2014). It is very common for business to have different
types of conflicts at workplace. It affects personnel to cope up with changing scenario because
conflict generate negative feeling among them and they cannot pay attention on their work. Most
of the times, conflict is the reason behind high attrition rate through which personnel face issue
in delivering their good quality of services (Machyo, 2009). For example, service sector like
hotels face such kind of issues very frequently. Owing to this, personnel cannot achieve their
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targets and this might become reason of low customer base. At this juncture, management uses
different strategies to understand the reasons behind the some but might not resolve the same on
right time.Pearson and Porath (2005) argued that cultural and racial differences is the most
crucial issue among many of the personnel. This types of differences tend to hamper productivity
of entire business as because of these differences employees take time to adjust in current
working condition. Similarly, lacking physical resources and implementation of new technology
are also the reason behind conflict at workplace (Salam, 2014). Owing this, company can face
issue in managing its internal operation which in turn competitive edge of business might be
affected. For example, implementation of new technology frustrate personnel as they face issue
in managing their operation (Salleh and Adulpakdee, 2012). Owing to this, type cannot devote
their 100% to achieve the targets on right time. This int urn again increase the issues among
personnel or even in team. However, this issue can be managed with appropriate learning
program. It is fact the initially people resist change and then gradually they come to know its
positive impact for their personal and professional growth (Speedy, 2006). Accordingly they
accept the same and become part of change.
Qureshi, Rasli and Zaman (2014) asserted that scope and content of work is another
cause of workplace conflict under which employees get dissatisfaction. They do not like to work
and try to just pass the time. This type of scenario increases cost of production and as sales
turnover go down (Ringstad, 2005). Similarly, new management techniques are also the main
reason behind conflict at workplace. Generally, new management techniques are applied by
changes in current rules and regulations. For this purpose, personnel are made understand the
need of changes and accordingly importance of the same is clarified among them. It leads to
ensure well being of personnel and company as well (Pathak, 2010). Furthermore, value conflict
arises due to incompatibility of principles and practices as well as preferences of personnel. This
kind of aspect create issue for management to team up the personnel. On the other hand, power
conflict arises due to extreme amount of influence in relationship or social setting in taking
decision (Mills, 2011). For example, one person at similar position is provided opportunity to
take decision but other does not. This situation tends to create conflict among them. It is also
considered as organizational conflict which shed light on inequalities in the firm (Irvine, 2014).
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Griffin (2013) reviewed that, environmental conflict directly affect personnel at
workplace because of external pressure. This external pressure comes at workplace in the form
of changing government and recession. This indirect affect all employees or human resource in
an organization (Felblinger, 2008). For this purpose, it becomes crucial for company to cope up
with changing scenario and build good relationship with them. Giebels and Janssen (2005)
reported five dimensions of conflict behavior at workplace; competing, avoiding,
accommodating and collaborating as well as compromising. All of these factor shed light on
dissatisfaction of personnel working in team or those working in different departments (Almost,
2006). This in turn become the reason of high attrition rate. Owing to this, focus can be laid on
conflicting perception so as to clarify the situation among personnel (Certo, 2015). It can be
effective for employees as well as firm to resolve the potential issue on time.
Another potential cause of conflict is conflicting role under which a person is forced to a
job which is outside of his assigned requirements (Frazer, Weaven, Giddings and Grace, 2012).
Such kind of work affect their satisfaction level and they think in wrong direction. However,
feeling of being discriminated take place at workplace. However, this might procedure
intentional or unintentional aggressive behavior withing employees (Haumschild,, Hertig and
Weber, 2015). Though, many people experience at workplace that associate wield their power in
a wrong manner. It becomes the major reason behind employees turnover and other potential
issues among personnel (Johnson, 2009). Therefore, potential causes of conflict of are taken into
account by business organization which can be done only with greater observation.
2. Key theories
According to Kankanhalli, Tan and Wei (2006) clashes among workforce can take place
any time to fault of management or differences exist among personnel. It this regard, it is
essential to incorporate their views and understanding their emotion or feeling.
In this regard, Path goal theory can be applied for explaining about conflict at workplace.
It focuses upon role of leader in a team that how it motivates personnel and integrate them to
work in the same direction (Lazar, Jones, and Shneiderman, 2006). Here, leader focuses upon
issues which are being faced by employees. It is done with the help of clear communication
between. However, formal or informal meeting can take place in order to ensure inclusion of
view point of employees (Mohamed and Yousef, 2014). Accordingly this theory suggests that
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