Question

Researchers and practitioners have long asserted that task-related conflict can be beneficial by stimulating creativity and critical thinking in group decision making. However, two recent studies examining the effects of task-related conflict across multiple studies failed to find support for an overall positive relationship between task conflict and group performance. These findings led researchers Scheepers and Jehn to delve a little deeper into the relationships between task conflict, relationship conflict, and decision making. They found that when relationship conflict was present during task conflict, group members were more likely to rigidly hold onto less than optimal starting positions during group interactions, leading to poor decision outcomes. The findings suggest that task conflict is neither universally good nor universally bad. Instead, its potential benefits in group decision making may depend on whether relationship conflict is also present.(p 243) Why is relationship conflict so detrimental to group decision making? Why can task conflict be potentially beneficial? What can you do as managers to facilitate potentially beneficial conflict while minimizing potentially detrimental conflict?

Answer 1

Answer- 1- In group decision making, each individual of the group is responsible for decision commitment. Each person of the group needs to understand the different aspects of group decision making process. But somtimes, conflicts in a group affect its decision making ability. One of these conflicts are relationship conflicts which have a negative effect on the understanding of decision making of a group. Relationship conflict is so detrimental to a group decision making because group members spend most of their time and energy on criticizing one another rather than focusing on the group issues. This conflict reduces the ability to process in group members and increases the level of stress, so the group members are not able to think clearly about the issues they are deciding. These are main reasons that relationship conflict is so harmful for a group decision making capability.

Answer-2- Task conflict refers to the conflicts in understanding between the group members. Today, conflicts are very common at work place. Task conflict occurs when the employees have disagreement regarding different ideas, opinions and views related to their decisions. Task conflict may be potentially beneficial for a group because it leads to effective decision making by encouraging different opinions to a problem. The group members are able to take good decisions with task conflict because they have deep knowledge of the issue. Task conflict also helps in providing great satisfaction with group decisions beacuse each member of the group get chance to give his/her opinion.

Answer-3- Conflicts are commonly seen in all organizations. People always try to avoid conflict but some potentially beneficial conflicts are mandatory for effective interpersonal relationships, decision making and problem solving. As a manager, many tricks can be applied to facilitate healthy conflicts at the workplace. To create healthy conflicts, an enviroment is required where different views and opinions are encouraged. The thoughts that people share with each other help the organization to progress. A training can also be provided to employees regarding healthy conflicts and problem solving skills. All the employees should be given proper freedom to express their views on a particular issue and they can also be rewarded for it.

On the other hand, it is very necessary to remove harmful conflicts from the workplace. As a manager, I would apply several techniques to avoid conflicts. Listening to each other is very important for managers and employees to avoid conflicts. Listening rather than arguing would be helpful to solve a problem. Sometimes, its better to walk away from a particular issue rather than discussing it. Workers' attention could be moved to other issues to avoid conflict. Another trick can be applied by creating an environment for open up communication in order to resolve the conflict.