Discuss the following strategies for resolving conflict: prevention, conflict management and conflict resolution.

Overall explanation

Below you will find how you can plan and draft the essay. Remember this is an example of one way you could approach the question. At Level 6 the questions are much more open so your response may be completely different and that's okay.

Essay plan

Intro – conflict is part of human nature

P1 – prevention, example, advantages, disadvantages

P2 – conflict management, example, advantages, disadvantages

P3 – conflict resolution, example, advantages, disadvantages

Conclusion – which one depends on people involved, nature of conflict and severity.

Example Essay

Conflict is a natural part of human interaction and can occur in various contexts, including personal relationships, workplaces, and communities. To address conflicts in the workplace effectively, organizations often employ three primary strategies: prevention, conflict management, and conflict resolution. Each strategy has its advantages and disadvantages, and their appropriateness depends on the specific situation and the parties involved.

Conflict Prevention: Conflict prevention involves proactively identifying potential sources of conflict and taking measures to prevent them from escalating into disputes. For example an organization implements clear communication channels and policies to address employee grievances promptly, reducing the likelihood of conflicts stemming from miscommunication. Another example may be a line manager and new employee discussing their expectations and boundaries early in their relationship to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to conflicts later.

Advantages:

- Cost-effective: Preventing conflicts is often more cost-effective than dealing with their consequences.

- Preserves relationships: It helps maintain positive relationships by avoiding unnecessary tension and hostility.

- Promotes productivity: In a workplace, conflict prevention can lead to a more harmonious and productive environment. People feel more comfortable and less stressed when they know where they stand.

Disadvantages:

- Not always possible: Some conflicts are inevitable, and prevention may not address deeply rooted issues. It’s also not possible to predict every conflict. Prevention only works if you foresee issues.

- Time-consuming: Implementing preventive measures can require time and effort. Especially if it’s not known whether a conflict will arise or not.

Conflict Management: Conflict management focuses on addressing conflicts as they arise, with the aim of minimizing their negative effects and finding mutually acceptable solutions. People openly discuss the conflict with the aim of reaching a mutual understanding of the disagreement. This approach requires a supportive leader trained in group skills and is usually used to try and prevent, or at least minimise, conflicts as they arise. For example, in a workplace two colleagues disagree about the best way to approach a task – they take the discussion to a meeting room with their supervisor and reach an agreeable outcome by finding common ground such as splitting the task into two parts, and each taking responsibility for their part.

Advantages:

- Addresses issues directly: Conflict management acknowledges the problem and attempts to find solutions.

- Preserves relationships: When managed well, conflicts can strengthen relationships by fostering understanding and compromise.

- Opportunity for growth: It can lead to personal and organizational growth by addressing underlying issues.

Disadvantages:

- Time and energy-consuming: Conflict management can be emotionally draining and time-consuming.

- Risk of escalation: If not handled properly, conflicts can escalate and get worse, causing more harm in the long term.

- No guarantee of resolution: Some conflicts may not have easily achievable solutions.

Conflict Resolution. Conflict resolution is the process of finding a definitive solution to a conflict,often resulting in a formal agreement that satisfies all parties. It is used after conflict has already broken out and sometimes when conflict management has already failed. A 3rd party such as a Liaison Officer mediates a resolution meeting, setting rules and procedures on behaviour conduct. An example of this is a dispute between buyer and supplier over a contract term which is taken to alternative dispute resolution such as arbitration. Another example may be a dispute between two employees which is taken to HR and each employee has a representative/ witness present.

Advantages:

- Permanent solution: Conflict resolution aims to resolve the issue once and for all. Unlike the other two approaches, the decision is final and cannot be undone.

- Legal and formal: It can be legally binding and provide a clear framework for compliance, unlike the other two options.

Disadvantages:

- Time-consuming: Conflict resolution can take a significant amount of time, especially if legal proceedings are involved.

- Costly: It can be expensive, particularly when legal or professional mediation services are required such as contract disputes between buyers and sellers.

- May not satisfy all parties: Some parties may feel they've lost or been unfairly treated, which can lead to lingering resentment.

In practice, the choice of strategy depends on the nature and severity of the conflict, the parties involved, and the desired outcomes. Often, a combination of these strategies may be employed to effectively address conflicts in various situations. Effective conflict management requires adaptability and a careful assessment of the specific circumstances to determine the most appropriate approach.

Tutor Notes

- there are so many parts to this question. I recommend doing a quick plan at the start like I've done. You can then flick back to this once you've finished your essay to check you've included all the points. For example, did you write the disadvantage of conflict management? Did you include an example of conflict resolution? There's so many things you could accidentally miss out here so do double check your work at the end.

- Students often get conflict management and conflict resolution mixed-up. Hopefully the above essay helps clear this up if you weren’t sure before.

- Some quotes on conflict management which you could use in your essay:

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." — Albert Einstein

"If you want to resolve a conflict, you must be willing to compromise." — John Hume

- Study guide p. 254