What role does organizational culture play role in conflicts
Answers
Conflict Styles
On his website, consultant and Ph.D. Ralph Kilmann discusses the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, a method of assessing conflict resolution style that has been around for more than 30 years. According to this model, there are five modes of conflict resolution: competing, accommodating, avoiding, collaborating and compromising. Everyone's capable of using all five styles, although most people rely on one type more than others. Although all five approaches have their place, the collaborative approach is ideal in most workplace situations. It involves searching for the root of the problem and finding a solution that's equally satisfactory to both parties. Organizational culture affects the conflict style employees use. For example, if your company is based on an "every man for himself" mentality, chances are you'll have more competitors and fewer collaborators.
Leadership
Strong leadership at the top allows people to use a collaborative approach to conflict more often. Without a clear, communicated vision of where the company is going, people can get into disagreements that go beyond the surface level as every person in the organization struggles to develop top-level goals and a defining identity. When a strong manager develops a mission and communicates objectives to the team, people have common ground to work from to address conflict collaboratively. If conflict is a big problem in your business, consider whether you're providing enough guidance to allow people to work as a team. According to a 2008 study by the testing and assessment company Psychometrics, 73 percent of survey takers said poor management was a major cause of conflict.