A Strategic Approach to Conflict Management Systems

Abstract

As a practice of identifying and handling conflicts, conflict management has been subjected to an intense scrutiny and even criticism, coming from both traditionalists (still dominant among Romanian managers), and progressive managers. As a result, conflict management systems got blamed for not including all stakeholders’ interests, as well as for undermining managers’ authority, among other not less important aspects. However, the solution to conflict management systems’ perceived flaws may reside in a strategic approach to conflict management, which should complement each organization’s strategic goals and existing structures, and therefore replace the best practices approach with a configurational approach focused on the best strategic fit for every organization.