ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT, CAUSES, ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE

ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT

INTRODUCTION

The aim of every organization is to ensure the accomplishment of its objective. Management should ensure that the organizational functions are well structured. A good working relationship between the bosses and office manager is very important. This relationship is expected to build up a good business environment. Okan (2008), stated, that, if an office manager is attached to an important executive such as a general manager of a big company, she may have an assistant who relieve her of the more simple duties. It has been observed that boss’s leadership style determines the type of business climate to work with secretary in harmony, commitment and dedication to achieve the required goal of organization.

WHAT IS CONFLICT?
Conflict is a serious disagreement between office managers and their bosses which arises as a result of tension, opposing ideas, opinions feelings or wishes. Conflict can also be referred to as the dissatisfaction of any employee or a group of employees over a denial of a perceived right or interest to which the individual or the group feels entitled.

CAUSES OF CONFLICT
v Problematic working condition
v Differences in opinion
v Goals
v Discrimination
v Poor communication
v Job insecurity

ADVANTAGES OF CONFLICT

1. It leads to better understanding
2. More commitment in work performance
3. It leads to job satisfaction
4. It improves quality of decision
5. It creates room for recognition.

DISADVANATAGES OF CONFLICTS

1. It leads to wastage and repetition of paper work
2. It might leads to loss of good employees
3. It tarnishes the image of an organization.

CONSEQUENCES OF UNRESOLVED CONFLICT TO ORGANIZATION

When conflict occurs frequently, in an organization the effect often become a acculturated. This leads to a general unpleasant work environment.

• It creates project delay that can result in missed market opportunities
• Costumer relations can be damaged when conflict result in confused communication or inconsistency information.
• It creates fear, distrust and passive-aggressive behaviors
• It compromises all positive energy in the workplace, creating a stressful and unproductive work environment.
• Creates tension and stress, reduce motivation and disturb concentration among employees
• Boss looses credibility in the eyes of peers, subordinates and supervisors because employees may begin to look at the disputes as badly managed and inoperative.
• Employees feel a sense of disappointment when conflicts are allowed to continue between them.

WAYS OF PREVENTING CONFLICT

The special case of conflict between a direct report and a boss presents unique challenges. As a manager with responsibilities up and down the organizational chain, recognizing and resolving conflicts with your boss may well define to what degree you can effectively contribute to your organization. A conflict with your boss can arise from several different kinds of situations or opposing perspectives.

Hall (1989), observed that no matter how carefully management may forecast, formulate policies, plan an elaborate organizational structures, the success of its planning is ultimately in the hand of the employees at all level.

There is no role clarity or alignment. You are not sure about how your work supports your boss’s work and how it meets the mission of the organization. You may think you’re doing tasks that should be on your boss’s list. Your boss may think that she or he is doing too much of your work.

• Office managers should use their initiatives to get job done, and also be dedicated to their work to avoid incurring the boss’s anger.
• Boss should ensure that the welfare of the office manager is well taken care of.
• Tolerance principle: both boss and office manager should respect this tolerance principle, this means that a person does not care about small minor issues.
• Both the boss and office manager should maintain their emotional stability.
• Office managers should study the different mood of their boss.
• Work and Humor. People spend the majority of their day at work, if it is all seriousness and no fun, you risk having under-productive employees, so you creates fun and humor while working to lighten up the mood in the office.

A boss could even host a conflict resolution seminar or find a conflict resolution expert who will come and speak to your office and explain the proper way to handle a conflict at work and in life. An informed employee is one step on the path toward a healthy work environment.