A constructive Approach to Managing Faculty Conflict: An Action Research Study

Figure 1.1 Workplace Conflict

The Issue	The Parties	The Workplace
Conflict:	Involving:	In Context of:

The researcher selected this particular problem to address not only due her experience with a chronic situation of conflict, but also due to the lack of leadership practice to address the issue of conflict within the organization. The effects of conflict can impact those within the organization both personally and professionally as well as have an organizational impact.

In the “Complete Guide to Conflict Resolution in the Workplace” Masters and Albright (2002) state the following:
First, conflict can affect the parties involved psychologically, emotionally and can be physiological debilitating. Second, conflict can impact those involved professionally in the areas of advancement, opportunity, networking, or leadership potential. And third, conflict has an organizational impact by affecting organizational performance (delays, litigations, waste and re-works), affecting productivity (avoidance, procrastination, or hesitation) and exposing organizations to the risks of litigations or exposing the organization to looking for replacements if the employee(s) who are in conflict leave the organization (p. 23-24).

This study has the potential to improve the organization in their methods of addressing conflict and those who represent the institution; faculty and administrators.