Answer to Question #128781 in Management for usama

Question

Can Dysfunctional conflicts lead to functional conflicts? Explain with example of an organization?

Answer 1

Can Dysfunctional Conflicts can lead to Functional Conflicts?

In some cases, when a conflict is not resolved on time, it can escalate to a dysfunctional one. However, there is a process that can help to manage such a conflict. Meditation can be one of the ways to ensure that the conflict changes from dysfunctional to functional. The intervention of a manager plays a significant role in ensuring the conflict turns into a manageable one. The employees that are engaged in the conflict can be led to redirecting their focus to what is best for the organization and themselves as well. Hence, the effect that would be felt from the initial dysfunctional conflict will tend to be manageable.

For example, employees in an organization can have different work schedules. The schedule may require some to work for more hours than the others but still under the same pay for similar duties. Once the employees working for more hours are aware of the different schedules, they will feel underrated. In most cases, that has led such employees that feel underrated to be involved in conflicts with their immediate supervisors. Due to such a communication breakdown, some of the employees can be introverts, and their performance can record a decline. However, when the organization's management quickly comes in to solve such an issue, the dysfunctional conflict will turn to a manageable one