The Role of Conflict LO9633

Keith Cowan (72212.51@CompuServe.COM)
30 Aug 96 17:56:22 EDT

Replying to LO9583 --

Dale Emery <72704.1550@CompuServe.COM> continues the discussion of conflict:
>...My initial reaction is: of
>*course* there will be conflict, and of *course* it plays a role in learning
>organizations. After saying that, I'm not sure what to add. Could you perhaps
>ask a more specific question or two? Or maybe offer some of your thoughts to
>get us started?

I am reminded of a common encounter in which we would observe that "we were
in violent agreement" during a particularly heated discussion. The idea of
opposing opinions is pretty fundamental to the release of energy.

In fact, one of my former corporate cohorts was considering joining my
current venture when I told him I did not think it would be a good idea.
We always seemed to agree on things. I said that this was not a good
chemistry. We needed to have heated debates to ensure we were not just
dreaming in technicolor. Diversity and harmony are only good to a point.

I would make the assertion that there is an issue of "bandwidth" at work
in conflict situations. When the bandwidth is too great. there can be a
destructive result from conflict. "Holy wars" would break out and the
corporation would not likely move forward efficiently. It would however
move forward and generate lots of heat! There would be winners and losers
but everyone could learn.

No conflict and the energy would be missing. People need to be challenged
mentally to reach down and give their best efforts. I would summarize that
as long as there are gaps between current state and desired end point,
there will be conflict.

I would suggest that an LO would attempt to channel the conflict to be in
the arena of ideas and not personalities. Personality conflicts are best
handled by the removal of one of the parties.

Sometimes this can be the more senior party. In one instance, the "boss"
had a personality conflict with me(and two of my four my peers). We hung in
and finally, the boss was asked to resign. He just did not fit the culture
of management inthe company! Cheers....Keith

-- 

Keith Cowan <72212.51@CompuServe.COM>

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>