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Chapter 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
CONFLICT IN AN ORGANISATION
Conflict is generally regarded as disagreement regarding interests or ideas (Esquivel and Kleiner, 1997). Organisational conflict is the discord that occurs when the goals, interests or values of different individuals or groups are incompatible and those individuals or groups block or frustrate each other`s attempt to achieve their objectives. Conflict is an inevitable part of organisational life since the goals of different stakeholders such as managers and staff are often incompatible (Jones et al., 2000). Bagshaw (1998) notes that conflict is a fact of life, …show more content…
This is the result of their differences in personality, cultural background, moral values and experiences, people will have different views of the same scenario. Thus means failure to reach an amicable solution in a given situation while working together, a conflict is bound to happen.
Cultural and racial perceptions can lead to quick conclusions about a particular person, which might not be accurate and could cause offense to the other party. Also, because they come from different walks of life, signs and meaning might differ greatly; what could be an innocent gesture in one culture can be very unpleasant in another, and this will cause a lot of tension especially in a multiracial workplace.
Another common cause of interpersonal conflict in the workplace is individual ideas about personal success. Some employees might have a strong drive for work-related achievement, and that always tends to clash with those who do not value the same principles, especially if they have to work together as a team. Interpersonal conflict creates a lot of tension in the office space—fueled by office politics, gossip and rumors. If it’s not handled appropriately, any tension may cause employees to feel alienated or abused, which could even lead to charges of discrimination and