Hello, Dear Readers! Let me continue the discussion about conflict that I started last Sunday. Today, let me share with you what are the sources of conflict.
There are only two broad categories of conflict.
Yes, there are only two, but, under each category, as the word “broad” implies, there are several factors that contribute to the conflict.
1. Structural Factors – refer to the nature of the organization and the way in which work is organized. They include:
- Specialization – when people specialize on their jobs, they become less aware of the tasks that others perform.
- Interdependence – when two or more units depend on each other in completing their respective tasks. Tension is created if the dependent unit cannot start working because of delays in the other unit.
- Common Resources – when an organization’s resources are shared by two or more parties. The possibility of conflict becomes greater when the resource becomes scarce.
- Goal Differences – when different work units have goals that are incompatible.
- Authority Relationships – how the superior and the subordinates feel about each other may sometimes be a cause for conflict.
- Status Inconsistencies – when managers receive certain privileges that are not available to non-managerial employees. Resentment and conflict becomes a possibility.
- Jurisdictional Ambiguities – when a part of the company’s overall tasks is left without a clear indication on who should be responsible.
2. Personal Factors – the result of individual differences.
- Skill and Abilities – for example, when a supervisor does not possess the technical skills required in the performance of tasks in his particular unit, workers may develop a negative attitude towards him.
- Personalities – people do not think, feel, look, or act alike, and these personality differences can cause conflict.
- Perceptions – for example, when an employee is perceived by his superior as the most effective and rewards him with a promotion, conflict occurs when others disagree with the perception.
- Values and Ethics – for example, when a new employee works hard as expected by his superiors, he may be regarded by the old workers as trying to do something that may expose their shortcomings.
- Emotions – uncontrolled emotions can cause conflict. For example, when stressed, one immediately flares up at anyone and anything that irks him/her.
- Communication Barriers – when communication between workers is not effective. For example, the workers barely understand the language of their superior which results to a negative effect on their performance.
So, in your own experiences, what kind of factors create conflict between you and the people around you? Hopefully, the source of conflict is not you.
Next week, let me discuss with you how to deal with conflicts.