Types of Conflict

Subject: Leadership and Management (Theory)

Overview

Individual conflict, group conflict, and organizational conflict are the three types of conflict. Interpersonal conflict is a disagreement between two people. Intrapersonal conflict happens within a person. Intragroup conflict is a type of conflict that occurs between members of a team. Intergroup conflict occurs when there is a misunderstanding among various teams within an organization. Inter-organizational conflict develops when organizations are dependent on one another in some way. Intra-organizational conflict is classified into four types: (1) vertical conflict, (2) horizontal conflict, (3) line-staff conflict, and (4) role conflict. International conflict happens at the global level between states.

Types of conflict 

Individual Conflict

  1. Interpersonal conflict: It refers to a disagreement between two people. This is usually related to how people differ from one another. We all have different personalities, which leads to incompatible choices and ideas. It appears to be a natural phenomenon that can eventually aid in personal growth or the development of relationships with others. Furthermore, making adjustments as required for dealing with this form of dispute.
     
  2. Intrapersonal conflict: It happens within a person. The event occurs in the person's head. As a result, it is a psychological conflict involving the individual's thoughts, values, principles, and emotions. Interpersonal conflict can range from the minor and ordinary, such as selecting whether or not to eat organic for lunch, to the significant and life-altering, such as choosing a career route. Furthermore, if you have difficulty deciphering your inner battles, this form of conflict can be extremely tough to manage. It causes agitation and unease, and it can even lead to melancholy. In such cases, it is best to discover a means to relieve anxiety by talking with other people. When you finally get out of the situation, you will feel more empowered as a person. As a result, the event elicited a good transformation that will aid you in your personal development.

Group Conflict

  1. Intragroup conflict: It is a sort of dispute that occurs among members of a team. Intragroup conflict results from these people's incompatibilities and misconceptions. It is caused by interpersonal conflicts (e.g., team members have different personalities, which can cause tension) or differences in opinions and ideas (e.g. in a presentation, members of the team might find the notions presented by the one presiding to be erroneous due to their differences in opinion). Conflict within a team can assist them to make decisions that would eventually allow them to achieve their team goals. However, if the level of dispute breaks harmony among the members, substantial guidance from a different party will be required to resolve it.
     
  2. Intergroup conflict: It occurs when there is a misunderstanding among several teams inside an organization. For example, an organization's sales department and customer support department may clash. This is owing to the various groups' disparate sets of goals and interests. Furthermore, competitiveness contributes to the emergence of intergroup conflict. Other variables contribute to this form of conflict. Some of these variables may be a resource rivalry or the boundaries established by a group to others in order to build their own identity as a team.

Organizational Conflict

  1. International conflict: It occurs between states on a global scale. Competition for resources is obviously important, but value and power conflicts are frequently linked and occasionally dominate.
     
  2. Inter-organizational conflict: It also occurs between groups that are in some manner dependent on one another. This conflict could be between buyer and supplier groups over raw material amount, quality, and delivery timeframes, as well as other policy problems. Conflicts may also arise between unions and the organizations that employ their members, as well as between government agencies that regulate particular organizations and the organizations that are affected by them.
     
  3. Intra-organizational conflict: There are four types of intra-organizational conflict each has distinctive characteristics:
  • Vertical Conflict: Vertical conflict is defined as any dispute between organizational levels; superior-subordinate conflict is one example. Vertical conflicts typically emerge when superiors attempt to exert control over subordinates and subordinates.
  • Horizontal Conflict: A conflict between individuals or departments at the same hierarchical level in an organization is referred to as horizontal conflict.
  • Line-Staff Conflict: Staff departments are common in most organizations to help line departments. The line-staff interaction is typically fraught with conflict. Line managers and staff managers often have different personality traits. Staffs are more educated, come from diverse backgrounds, and are younger than line employees. These many personal features are typically associated with various values and ideas, and the emergence of these various values tends to produce conflict.
     
  • Role Conflict: A role is a set of actions that others expect people to do in their position. A role is frequently fraught with strife.

References

Things to remember
  • Individual conflict, Group conflict, and Organizational conflict are the three types of conflict.
  • Interpersonal conflict is a disagreement between two people.
  • This is usually related to how people differ from one another. Intrapersonal conflict happens within a person.
  • The event occurs in the person's head. Intragroup conflict is a type of conflict that occurs between members of a team.
  • Intragroup conflict results from these people's incompatibilities and misconceptions.
  • Intergroup conflict occurs when there is a misunderstanding among various teams within an organization.
  • Inter-organizational conflict develops when organizations are dependent on one another in some way.
  • Intra-organizational conflict is classified into four types: (1) vertical conflict, (2) horizontal conflict, (3) line-staff conflict, and (4) role conflict.
  • International conflict happens at the global level between states. Competition for resources is obviously important, but value and power conflicts are frequently linked and occasionally dominate.
Questions and Answers
  • Individual Conflict
    • Interpersonal Conflict refers to a conflict between two individuals. This occurs typically due to how people are different from one another. We have varied personalities which usually results in incompatible choices and opinions. Apparently, it is a natural occurrence which can eventually help in personal growth or develop your relationships with others. In addition, coming up with adjustments is necessary for managing this type of conflict.
    • Intrapersonal Conflict occurs within an individual. The experience takes place in the person’s mind. Hence, it is a type of conflict that is psychological involving the individual’s thoughts, values, principles, and emotions. Interpersonal conflict may come in different scales, from the simpler mundane ones like deciding whether or not to go organic for lunch to ones that can affect major decisions such as choosing a career path. Furthermore, this type of conflict can be quite difficult to handle if you find it hard to decipher your inner struggles. It leads to restlessness and uneasiness, or can even cause depression. In such occasions, it would be best to seek a way to let go of the anxiety through communicating with other people. Eventually, when you find yourself out of the situation, you can become more empowered as a person. Thus, the experience evoked a positive change which will help you in your own personal growth.
  • Group Conflict
    • Intragroup Conflict is a type of conflict that happens among individuals within a team. The incompatibilities and misunderstandings among these individuals lead to an intragroup conflict. It arises from interpersonal disagreements (e.g. team members have different personalities which may lead to tension) or differences in views and ideas (e.g. in a presentation, members of the team might find the notions presented by the one presiding to be erroneous due to their differences in opinion). Within a team, conflict can be helpful in coming up with decisions which will eventually allow them to reach their objectives as a team. However, if the degree of conflict disrupts harmony among the members, then some serious guidance from a different party will be needed for it to be settled.
    • Intergroup Conflict takes place when a misunderstanding arises among different teams within an organization. For instance, the sales department of an organization can come in conflict with the customer support department. This is due to the varied sets of goals and interests of these different groups. In addition, competition also contributes for intergroup conflict to arise. There are other factors which fuel this type of conflict. Some of these factors may include a rivalry in resources or the boundaries set by a group to others which establish their own identity as a team.
  • Organizational Conflict
    • Inter-organizational Conflict also occurs between organizations which are dependent upon each other in some way. This conflict may be between buyer organizations and supplier organizations about quantity, quality and delivery times of raw materials and other policy issues. Such conflict could also be between unions and organizations employing their members, between government agencies that regulate certain organizations and the organizations that are affected by them.
    • Intra-organizational Conflict four types of intra-organizational conflict exist (1) vertical conflict (2) horizontal conflict (3) line-staff conflict and (4) role conflict. Although these types of conflict can overlap, especially with role conflict, each has distinctive characteristics.

Vertical Conflict: Vertical conflict refers to any conflict between levels in an organization; superior-subordinate conflict is one example. Vertical conflicts usually arise because superiors attempt to control subordinates and subordinates.

Horizontal Conflict: Horizontal Conflict refers to a conflict between employees or departments at the same hierarchical level in an organization.

Line-Staff Conflict: Most organizations have staff departments to assist the line departments.

The line-staff relationship frequently involves conflict. Staff managers and line managers typically have different personal characteristics. Staff employees tend to have a higher level of education, come from different backgrounds, and are younger than line employees. These different personal characteristics are frequently associated with different values and beliefs, and the surfacing of these different values tends to create conflict.

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