Conflict Management

Running head: CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

Conflict Management

University of Phoenix

Conflict Management

More businesses are beginning to rely on the team approach to produce answers or products created by work groups. Whenever a new group is formed there is the possibility for internal conflict. The idea behind most development teams is to apply members that bring different creative and innovative ideas. Often ideas clash producing reduced productivity, because people will not work together. Newly formed teams need to take the time necessary to assimilate to the group. Leaders of the group should hold an initial meeting to introduce the members and give background on each person's strengths. When members become familiar with each other, and form interpersonal relationships, members will become productive. It can be a battle to have a single group of people work together; however businesses need groups from different departments to work together while being efficient. Networked groups within a business may work toward a common goal, while having competing goals of achievement. Business also need to form healthy alliances with groups that exist outside the business. Not all businesses have the capacity to produce a result internally. This is where a partnership is formed between businesses to complete a project. Leadership may be the single most important of a group. The groups leadership needs to be able to keep the group moving toward the goal while giving constructive criticism carefully and not being destructive to the groups progress.

In all groups there should be ground rules (Newman & Grigg 2008). Ground rules set the stage for how all group related activities will be performed. It sounds simple except without ground rules there can be chaos. People with different levels of training can be a problem; however, it can be solved easily. Pairing individuals with different levels of training gives group members the opportunity to learn from each other. Simple exchanges between group members builds individual skills, especially interpersonal skills which will reduce group conflict. Initially members must know that they were paired for a reason. Upon initial introduction members need to know what roll will be played by the individual. A clear definition of the project and the projects standards will set the tempo for how the group will function (Middle n.d.). A common problem is procrastination. Members of the project group need to know that individual performance will be judged in addition to the overall group performance. When project members are behind schedule a project may push back progress causing other members to put in extra time and effort to meet deadlines. With clear guidelines established by leaders, all members of the group know what is expected of them and are aware of the penalties that come from falling short.

Some businesses create competition between work groups in hopes that competition will bring about a increased level of productivity. Workplace competition can improve worker output; however, it can also lead to an eventual decrease across the entire business. Work groups with a business may feel performance pressures, when the pressures become too strenuous and deadlines get close projects from other dependent work groups may be pushed back. Internal organizational networking is a necessity in the current business setting. Each person must be aware who the stakeholders are throughout every level of the businesses. Even though each work group, and group member work independently, groups need to focus on the project as a whole. Internal networking is a skill in which all employees need to be proficient. When work groups are aware of the other work group's strengths, there is an opportunity for increased productivity. If interpersonal relationships are formed, a bond of camaraderie will push stakeholders to aide one another in taking on