Introduction to Organizational Behavior

Conflicts may be classified into intrapersonal, interpersonal and intergroup conflicts. The conflicts that take place within an individual are referred to as intrapersonal conflict. Incompatability between needs of the individual and the goals of the organization, and the absence of role clarity lead to intrapersonal conflict. If two individuals get into conflict over an issue, such conflict is called interpersonal conflict. Such conflicts may arise because of incompatibility between individuals or when an individual perceives that his image is under threat because of the actions of another individual.

The conflicts between groups are referred to as intergroup conflicts. They may arise because of differences in viewpoints or competition for scarce resources. The process of conflict has five stages - potential opposition (incompatibility), cognition and personalization, intentions, behavior and outcomes. In the first stage, the presence of certain conditions like barriers to communication, the size and structure of work groups, or differences in personalities stimulate conflict.

The conflict may or may not be evident to outsiders at all these stages. In the fourth stage (behavior), the conflict becomes obvious because of the behavior of the conflicting individuals. In the fifth stage (outcomes), the parties interact with each other and the outcome may have either positive or negative impact on the organization. The best way to resolve conflicts is through negotiations. The two negotiating approaches that are generally practiced in organizations are distributive bargaining and integrative bargaining. Distributive bargaining leads to win-lose situations whereas integrative bargaining leads to win-win situations. The negotiation process consists of five stages: preparation and planning, defining ground rules, classification and justification, bargaining and problem solving, and closure and implementation. In the first stage, the negotiator prepares the strategy to be adopted at the negotiation table. In the second stage, both parties arrive at the negotiation table and establish the basic rules and procedures that will guide the negotiation process. In the third stage, both parties exchange their demands and justify them.