MANAGING CONFLICTS, POLITICS AND NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN AN ORGANISATION

By: Jennifer, Lebole, Keneilwe & Bobeng

Introduction
Every day management involves dealing with everyday: conflicts, politics & negotiations

Introduction cont.
Managers need to understand these concepts in order to manage them effectively We will define these concepts & discuss how to manage them within an organization

CONFLICT
DEFINITION A natural disagreement that results from individual or groups that differ in attitudes, beliefs, values or needs It can originate from past rivalries

Types of conflicts
According to solution 11, conflict resolution (2009), there are three (3) main types: 1. Conflict about limited means 2. Conflict about values 3. Conflicts about identity

Causes of conflict
Root of conflicts within an organization can be: Organizational Interpersonal Intrapersonal

Conflict management strategies

Culbertson (2008) proposed five strategies to manage conflicts within an organization: Collaborating Compromising Accommodating Competing Avoiding

POLITICS
DEFINITION This refers to the self serving and manipulative behavior of individuals and groups to promote their self interests at the expense of others and sometimes even the organizational goals (Ratzburg, 2000)

Politics cont.
Influences and affects: Relationships Norms Processes Performance, within an organization

Politics cont.
Can manifest through: Struggle for resources Personal conflicts Competition for power & leadership Tactical influence executed by individuals & groups to attain power

Causes of politics
Usually caused by diversity of personal interests of people within the organization (Alagse, 2009) It arises when people thick differently and want to act differently

Managing organizational Politics

Align individual needs with organizational goals use political means

NEGOTIATIONS
DEFINITION Discussion between two or more disputants who are trying to work out a solution to a problem (Maise, 2003) Occurs because both parties acknowledge that there is some conflict of interests

Management of negotiations
Effective negotiations occurs when matters are resolved and working relationships are maintained and improved (Mc Cuddy, 2003). Mc Cuddy (2003) suggests 2 strategies involved in negotiations within an org.

Negotiation strategies
Integrative Distributive

conclusion
Conflicts, negotiations and politics are inevitable within organizations Managers need to understand these concepts of management in order to deal with them effectively

conclusion
Conflicts can be managed through: Collaborating Compromising Accommodating Competing Avoiding

conclusion
Politics can be managed by: Aligning individual needs with organizational goals using political means

conclusion
Negotiations can be managed through 2 strategies: Integrative

Distributive