This question contains two parts; be sure to answer both. First, define conflict and distinguish between dysfunctional conflict (bad) and functional conflict (good). Second, imagine that you manage a high-volume bar/restaurant with many different types of employees: servers, hosts and hostesses, bartenders, bussers, cooks, porters, and so on. Explain two types of dysfunctional conflict that you might encounter in the restaurant, as well as two types of functional conflict. How would you resolve the dysfunctional conflict and use the functional conflict to the advantage of the employees and the restaurant?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Conflict is simply disagreement, a perfectly normal state of affairs. Conflicts may take many forms: between individuals, between an individual and a group, between groups, within a group, and between an organization and its environment.

Dysfunctional conflict is bad for organizations. From the standpoint of the organization, dysfunctional conflict hinders the organization's performance or threatens its interests. As a manager, you need to do what you can to remove negative conflict.

Functional conflict is good for organizations. It benefits the main purposes of the organization and serves its interests. There are some situations in which this kind of conflict—also called cooperative conflict—is considered advantageous.

Students should explain the source of functional and dysfunctional conflict at the hypothetical restaurant, explaining how they would deal with the dysfunctional conflict and take advantage of the functional conflict.