Chapter 14: Conflict and Negotiation
A DEFINITION OF CONFLICT
Conflict – a process that begins when one party perceives that another party has negatively affected, or
is about to negatively affect, something that first party cares about
TRANSITIONS IN CONFLICT THOUGHT
The Traditional View of Conflict
Traditional View of Conflict – the belief that all conflict is harmful and must be avoided
The Interactionist View of Conflict
Interactionist View of Conflict – the belief that conflict is not only a positive force in a group but also an
absolute necessity for a group to perform effectively
Functional Conflict – conflict that supports the goals of the group and improves its performance
Dysfunctional Conflict – conflict that hinders group performance
Task Conflict – conflict over content and goals of the work
Relationship Conflict – Conflict based on interpersonal relationships
Process Conflict – conflict over how work gets done
THE CONFLICT PROCESS
Conflict Process – A process that has five stages; potential opposition or incompatibility, cognition and
personalization, intentions, behavior, and outcomes
Stage 1: Potential opposition or Incompatibility
1. Communication
2. Structure
3. Personal Variables
Stage 2: Cognition and Personalization
Perceived Conflict – awareness by one or more parties of the existence of conditions that create
opportunities for conflict to arise
Felt Conflict – emotional involvement in a conflict that creates anxiety, tenseness, frustration, or
hostility
Stage 3: Intentions
Intentions – decisions to act in a given way
1. Competing – a desire to satisfy one’s interests, regardless of the impact on the other party to
the conflict
2. Collaborating – A situation in which the parties to a conflict each desires to satisfy fully the
concerns of all parties
3. Avoiding – the desire to withdraw from or suppress conflict
4. Accommodating – the willingness of one party to a conflict to place the opponent’s interests
above his or her own
5. Compromising – a situation in which each party to a conflict is willing to give up something
Stage 4: Behavior
Conflict management – the use resolution and stimulation techniques to achieve the desired level of
conflict
Stage 5: Outcomes
Functional Outcomes
Dysfunctional Outcome
NEGOTIATION
Negotiation – A process in which two or more parties exchange goods or services and attempt to agree
on the exchange rate for them
Bargaining Strategies
Distributive Bargaining – negotiation that seeks to divide up a fixed amount of resources; a win-lose
situation
Fixed pie – the belief that there is only a set amount of goods or services to be divided up
between the parties
Integrative Bargaining – negotiation that seeks one or more settlements that can create a win-win
situation
The Negotiation Process
1. Preparation and Planning
2. Definition of Ground Rules
3. Clarification and Justification
4. Bargaining and Problem Solving
5. Closure and Implementation
BATNA – the Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement; the least the individual should accept
Individual Differences in Negotiation Effectiveness
1. Personality Traits in Negotiation
2. Moods/Emotions in Negotiation
3. Culture in Negotiations
4. Gender Differences in Negotiations
Third Party Negotiations
Mediator – a neutral third party who facilitates a negotiated solution by using reasoning, persuasion,
and suggestions for alternatives
Arbitrator – A third Party to a negotiation who has the authority to dictate an agreement
Conciliator – A trusted third party who provides an informal communication link between the negotiator
and the opponent