Question

What are the different types of goals in conflict? How do they overlap and influence each other? What is the most effective way to clarify or collaborate on setting goals?

Answer 1

There are basically four types of Goals in Conflict. These are Content, Relational, Identity, and Process.

Content Goals- These goals are about which decisions to make, how resources must be allocated, etc.

Relational Goals- It deals with who are we to each other? It defines how each party wants to be treated by the other one.

The distinction between relational and content issues is often blurred.

Identity- These goals represent one's wish to maintain his sense of self-identity. It also show the need of people to present themselves effectively during interaction and to be treated with respect.

Process Goals-

These goals represent one's views on how the interaction is conducted. Will it be made with consensus or by election, will it be decided in the single meeting or a series of meetings?

Overlap

The process goal of the conflict will affect all of the other goals, namely content, identity, and relational. For example, if one rule is deployed where only a few contents are allowed and only a few people know this rule. Then those who know the rule will be on the advantage.

Most effective way to clarify on setting goals.

first of Separate People from the Problem and approach the situation with you feeling and not me my , mine. Unnecessary debates must be avoided and every one needs to listen to and acknowledge what the other person is trying to say. Acknowledging emotion of others while solving the problem is also very effective in collaborative goal setting.