The efficiency and productivity of a team is affected negatively by conflict resolution. When conflict is present within a team, the team is not able to function and produce at their highest level. The team puts more effort and energy into the controversy itself rather that the goal that has been set by the team. Even though the disagreement may only be between two people, the whole team feels the unwanted tension, workload and extra costs incurred. As the UNC research team reported in their results to Industry Week and The Dallas Morning News, 53 % of the respondents said they lost work time worrying about a past or future confrontation with a coworker. (Zimmerman, 2007). In my experience, as a supervisor and part of a management team I have seen firsthand how conflict can dictate the productivity levels, efficiency and costs within the workplace.
Effective conflict resolution strategies help reduce costs and turnover ratios. A variety of costs are incurred as a result of long term tension and disputes. When conflict is not resolved as soon as it becomes imminent anger builds up and hostile work environments become
References: Building (n.d.). Building great places to work. Retrieved October 21, 2007, from http://www.hr.umich.edu Managing groups and teams (2007, October 10, 2007). Managing groups and teams/conflict. Retrieved October 21,2007, from http://en.wikibooks.org Zimmerman, A. (2007, June). Eliminate workplace conflict and improve productivity. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from http://www.salesandmarketing.com