- Describe some of the factors that led this situation to become an open conflict.,
- What are the options available for conflict resolution? Discuss the Pros and Cons of each option.,
- Which of the conflict resolution strategies will result in a Win-Win solution and how?,
Case Study
- Describe some of the factors that led this situation to become an open conflict.,
- What are the options available for conflict resolution? Discuss the Pros and Cons of each option.,
- Which of the conflict resolution strategies will result in a Win-Win solution and how?,
Disorderly Conduct
The sound of Matt and Peter’s arguing is familiar to everyone in the office by now. In an effort to make the best use of space and ensure a free flow of discussion and ideas, the founder of Markay Design had decided to convert the one-floor office of the company to an open plan with no walls between workers. The goal of such a layout is to eliminate boundaries and enhance creativity. But for Matt and Peter, the new arrangement creates a growing sense of tension as they share a large desk.
The argument boils down to the question of workspace order and organization. Peter prefers to keep his area completely clean and clear, and he keeps a stack of cleaning wipes in a drawer to eliminate any dust or dirt. Matt, on the other hand, likes to keep all his work visible on his part of the desk, so sketches, plans, magazines, and photos are scattered everywhere, alongside boxes of crackers and coffee cups. Peter finds it hard to concentrate when he sees Matt’s piles of materials everywhere, while Matt feels he can be more creative and free flowing when he is not forced to clean and organize constantly. Many of Matt and Peter’s co-workers wish they would just let the issue drop. The men enjoyed a good working relationship in the past, with Peter’s attention to detail and thorough planning serving to rein in some of Matt’s wild inspirations. But of late, their collaborations have been derailed in disputes.
Everyone knows it’s not productive to engage in conflicts over every small irritant in the workplace. However, completely avoiding conflict can be equally negative. An emerging body of research has examined “conflict cultures” in organizations. The findings suggest having a culture that actively avoids and suppresses conflicts is associated with lower levels of creativity.
Moreover, cultures that push conflict underground but fail in reducing the underlying tensions can become passive-aggressive, marked by underhanded behaviour against other co- workers.
Ultimately, finding a way through the clutter dispute is probably going to be an ongoing process to find a balance between perspectives. Both Matt and Peter worry that if they cannot find a solution, their usually positive work relationship will be too contentious to bear, and that would be a real mess