Conflict Both Positive and Negative, Is That Possible?

July 19, 2011

What is conflict? Can it be both positive and negative? Conflict is a “A disruption of order, a negative experience, an error or mistake in a relationship” (Dudley, n.d.). This is a term that is normally thought of as negative especially when it comes to project management and implementation. But in doing some researched I have found out that conflict can also be positive. To illustrate both sides I have listed 6 potential conflicts and will show you how they can impact a project.

Personality conflicts are a common issue when running a project. When person A and person B can not learn to get along, it can lead to arguments, negative morale and other issues. This type of conflict can also add additional stress on every member of the team. It causes alliances that are counterproductive to the goal of the project. It is also a stressor because it can create a hostile work environment. On the flip side of that though working through this negative issue can be a great opportunity for growth among the team. By learning to compromise and work together it can improve the team’s productivity. I have witness this first hand in my own interactions with team members.

Time Management is another issue that can arise when implementing projects that can derail the team. It can lead to missed deadlines, increase employee costs, and project failure. Mismanagement of time can add additional stress to everyone on a project because the actions or failure of action can cause additional work for everyone as well there can be stress associated with the reputational damage that person A mismanagement of time has on the whole team because a project was late.

Differing opinions can be both positive and negative effects on a team. It is a great opportunity to look at new ideas that would have normally been overlooked. It is also an opportunity for change to result. On the negative side though differing opinions can cause apathy in the process it can divert time and...