Commerce 2BA3 Conflict and Stress Week 10 Dr. Teal McAteer DeGroote School of Business McMaster University

Revised Grade Spreadsheet Please review spreadsheet posted on website Sunday, March 7 th (after 9pm) to verify that grades, including World Congres bonus marks, have been revised and recorded correctly.

What is Conflict? A process that occurs when one person, group, or organizational subunit frustrates the goal attainment of another. Levels: intrapersonal interpersonal intragroup intergroup

Traditional View of Conflict Negative, dysfunctional, detrimental Distracts managers Managers motivated to eliminate or suppress conflict

Contemporary View of Conflict Benefits of conflict are recognized Realization that suppressing conflict can lead to further negative consequences Conflict is seen as inevitable rather than avoidable

Causes of Organizational Conflict Group identification and intergroup bias Interdependence Difference in power, status and culture Ambiguity Scarce resources

Types of Conflict Relationship Task Process

Conflict Dynamics Changes within each group: Loyalty to group more important Increased concern for task accomplishment Autocratic leadership Group structure more rigid Group cohesiveness increases

Conflict Dynamics Cont. Changes in relations between groups: Information concealed Interaction decreases Win-lose orientation rather than problem- solving Increased hostility toward rival group

Approaches To Managing Organizational Conflict Avoiding Accommodating Competing Compromise Collaborating

Managing conflict with negotiation Distributive negotiation tactics Integrative negotiation tactics Third party involvement

Conflict Intensity and Organizational Outcomes Conflict that is either too high or too low can be detrimental to productivity Conflict should be at an optimal level Conflict  change  adaptation  survival

A Model of Stress in Organizations

Stressors in Organizational Life Executive and managerial stressors Operative – level stressors Boundary role stressors General stressors

Stress A physiological reaction to the demands inherent in a stressor D(demands) > R(resources)= S(stress) Flight or fight

Demand- Response Imbalance Good stress versus bad stress Factors related to imbalance

Stress Reactions Psychological Physiological Behavioral

Reducing or Coping with Stress Job redesign Social support Human resource policies Stress management programs Work- life balance programs