Literature Review: Different Perspectives On Conflicts

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

A literature review is an opinion from a past research from other researchers and relevant with the topics. The researcher discuss and bring up to the past research journal and get a gist from past literature. Few important concepts were determined chosen to reflect the importance of phrase or words utilized in the present research.

2.2 Important Concept

On this research, the concept that need to be understand fully is the definition of conflict and the scope of conflict that this research is studying. Since the subject matter is mainly about the conflict at the workplace, therefore all related case study and research will be review and guidance to complete this research questions and objectives.

Conflict has always been an inherent feature of human existence and social development and it was supported from a past researcher, Kriesberg (2007), his point of view was from a sociological perspective, conflict is conceptualized as a situation in which two or more actors, such as individuals, groups or societies, pursue incompatible goals, including dissent about the distribution, appropriateness and legitimacy of a specific object (Kriesberg 2007)

2.2.2 Different Perspectives on Conflicts

While the term conflict generally is associated with negative encounters, conflict itself is neither inherently good nor inherently bad. In fact, engaging in conflict can have positive effects on relationships and organizations. In Social Conflict: Escalation, Stalemate and Settlement, Dean Pruitt and Jeffrey Rubin identify five positive or beneficial aspects of conflict.

To begin, he mentioned that conflict contributes to social change ensuring both interpersonal and intergroup dynamics remain fresh and reflective of current interests and realities. This enables employee to be more aware and alert with current issues and this factor can be optimize by leaders to find new opportunities in the

According to Vazquez (2007), it is helpful to understand the source of potential conflict. Below are some common sources of conflict cited by Vasquez: Conflict type Description

Values conflict Involves incompatibility of preferences, principles and practices that people believe in such as religion, ethics or politics.

Power conflict Occurs when each party wishes to maintain or maximize the amount of influence that it exerts in the relationship and the social setting such as in a decision making process.

Economic conflict Involves competing to attain scarce resources such as monetary or human resources.

Interpersonal conflict Occurs when two people or more have incompatible needs, goals, or approaches in their relationship such as different communication or work styles.

Organizational conflict Involves inequalities in the organizational chart and how employees report to one another.

Environmental conflict Involves external pressures outside of the organization such as a recession, a changing government, or a high employment