Conflicts are unavoidable in any project management environment. There are many sources of conflict in a work environment and these include competition and in congruence requirements to name a few. The presence of conflict is indicative of the failure of the communication management strategies used in a particular organization. Without effective conflict management, it can lead to dysfunctional outcomes. However, if it is management, they can help the team find the best solution to the problem.
It is, therefore, important for the project manager to learn how to identify the different causes of conflict so that they can easily be managed to minimize the negative impacts. Managing conflict within the project environment is all about building trust to the parties involved. It is also vital for the project manager to use collaborative approach among the members to encourage them to work with one another to resolve the conflict at hand. On the other hand, the project manager can also use active management styles to handle the conflict if the collaborative approach is not possible.
Conflict management is a big challenge for all project managers but it is an important aspect in project management.