SWP 907 Lecture 5: CINT-907 Week 5 Reading #2 How teams can capitalize on conflict

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Social Work
• Course: SWP 907
• Professor: Jennifer Ajandi

Document Summary

Nowadays organizations and business rely heavily on teams and teamwork to conduct much of their business. The increase amount of diversity found in team members, increases the likelihood of divergent perspectives, which can be seen as a strength and a challenge. Also, often teams are geographically dispersed, making face-to-face communication difficult thus causing an increase amount conflict to occur. Due to that, conflict must be handled effectively for teams to remain productive. However, perhaps the more critical issue is whether teams are experiencing enough conflict. Conflict itself, especially when innovative alternatives are being analyzed and challenged, is a necessary ingredient in the creative process. Differences are often the catalysts to dynamic debate and creative thinking. A critical challenge for leaders and teams is how to get the best from the inevitable differences and disagreements that arise while minimizing the harm and discomfort routinely associated with conflict. Over the past fifteen years researchers have recognized two principal types of organizational conflict.