Introduction

                                Introduction to  Organizational Conflict 

Introduction  to the topic 

There are many topics in conflict management to research and discuss, but organizational conflict is crucial as everyone encounters conflicts daily at work.Organizational conflict is controversies that happen at work between managers and subordinates, and all other co-workers. Disputes happen over all sorts of issues the common ones include power differences, position differences, culture, personalities, and differences in opinion on how a job is to be completed. A basic definition of organizational communication is disagreements between individuals or groups within a workplace. One of the most common reasons disagreements happen in the workplace is because workers feel as though they should be paid more, whereas the managers do no feel the same way.

Why people need to be aware
Everyone needs to know about organizational conflict because at some point in every person's life they will have to get a job or already have a job and will come into contact with other people with whom they will have differences with. Knowing how to deal with conflicts with other employee's, subordinates, superiors, and coworkers, will aid one in being a better employee and overall better person at work and in their personal lives. Also, conflict in the workplace can harm and disturb business operations and the company's image, so any differences should be handled immediately and correctly.




Key concepts and theories 
In organizational conflict in the workplace, there are many concepts one can look at, but here I will focus on the Explanatory Model of Interpersonal Conflict.

1. Distal Context:
Distal context refers to the background character of people that exist prior to a conflict situation. Factors involved include culture, individual dispositions, relationship history, prior conflicts, and knowledge and skill.An example of this includes a worker from a collectivist society having an argument from a person from a individualistic society over whether a project should be done alone or with a group of workers.

2. Proximal Context:
Proximal context is the perceptual environment that is readily attached to a specific controversy. Factors involved include goals, emotions, and attributions. An example of proximal context is there is a difference when a conflict occurs on the sales floor than in a private office, In this example the environment is different. On the sales floor the workers in dispute are obligated to act more professional and watch their choice of words, whereas in a private office where no one can hear the people in dispute do not have to worry about other people hearing and can say whatever they want.

3. Conflict Interaction:
Conflict interaction is concerned with what occurs during the process of the conflict. The emphasis is on the message tactics, strategies, and patterns. Tactics and strategies used can create patterns that are for better or for worse in managing the controversy between the parties. One tactic is to separate the people involved in the conflict. Thus, separation is necessary because the parties involved usually become personally involved when discussing options in negotiation. The focus of negotiation is to look at the problem, and determine how to solve it.

4. Proximal Outcomes:
Proximal outcomes are the immediate consequences of a controversy. Evidence shows that the use of integration strategies and the five organizational outcomes proves strong relationships. The five organizational outcomes include job sanctification, perceptions of workplace equity, system outcomes, job and performance outcomes, and interpersonal outcomes.

5. Distal Outcomes:
Distal outcomes refers to the delayed effects of a controversy that arise over time. An examples of distal outcomes is when two workers try to resolve a dispute that created problems for both parties, but in the end may result in a friendship.

References:

Cupach, W.R., Canary, D.J., & Spitzberg, B.H. (2010). Competence in Interpersonal Conflict.Long 
          Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press.

Dontigney, E. (n.d.). What is organizational conflict. AZ Central. Retrieved 

          from http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/organizational-conflict-1227.html