Conflict (8)

Conflict (8)

1. Explain how conflict is a normal phase of group communication

   • it's a result from differences between group members (perception, personality, knowledge, etc.)

2. Definition

   • an expressed struggle between at least 2 interdependent people who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others to achieve specific goals
     • 4 phases
       • orientation
       • conflict
       • emergence
       • reinforcement

3. Pro's

   • would have little to discuss w/o, makes group test/challenge ideas

4. Con's

   • can be detrimental to group interaction/decision making when it keeps group from completing its task, interfears w/quality of group decisions/productivity, or threatens existence of group

5. 5 methods of conflict management

   • avoidance
     • attempts to ignore disagreements
   • accommodation
     • tries to make conflict go away by giving in to the wishes of others
   • competition
     • ppl stress winning a conflict at the expense of one or more others
   • compromise
     • attempt to find middle group somewhat meets all needs
   • collaboration
     • view conflict as a problem to be solved rather than a game in which some win and some lose

6. groupthink

   • illusion of agreement, type of thinking that occurs when a group strives to minimize conflict, max cohesivness, and reach a consensus w/o critically tesing ,analyzing, and evaluating ideas