Conflict is an expressed struggle between two or more interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals (Wilmot, 1998, pg.34).

It would seem strange to have a conflict within a conflict, wouldn't it? The whole negotiation process is in existence because of some sort of disagreement or conflict, and aside from the actual act of the negotiation, I want to discuss some of the "behind the scenes" conflict that can exist.

Since people do the negotiating, it us understood that the people can act or behave in ways that can either make the process function or render it dysfunctional.

There are three different types of outside conflict during the negotiation process I will discuss: task/person conflict, content/relationship conflict, and conflict as a constructive/positive force.

If a team is negotiating against another team, there may be conflict within the team. We experienced this in our class simulation when the spokesperson for management kept making things up, this upset his team because they did

Our chief negotiator is a strict catholic who is dead-set against abortion, but not to an extreme level. Other members of the group don't care either way or are against it also- except for one, and she's for it. She and our chief negotiator are having a problem picking the best company to leave the building to. Although he's not an extreme person against abortion, he feels a little chance to pull some "good" out of the situation. She feels that the firm would be okay, but she also believes that a clinic on this side of town would be beneficial to the people. Because of their conflicting viewpoints, they will experience a decrease in their tolerance of each other, their communication quality will decrease, and they will both feel as if they are wasting their time trying to talk to the other.

Let's use the same chief negotiator for our example of person conflict. He is in a group that tries to prevent old city buildings from being torn down, with the understanding that they can be rebuilt for another use.

-people can change and grow personally from the conflict.

-it builds cohesiveness among members of a team.

-Conflict can facilitate implementation through involvement, mutual understanding, and buy-in.

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Approximate Word count = 1617
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)