Implications Of Multicultural Group Conflict
A major challenge facing the contemporary business world is that of multicultural conflict.
This friction amongst different members of the business community is often derived from the relationship between culture and the implementation or refinement of strategic behaviors and practices. Often due to a lack of framework in defining and measuring organizations' diversity structures, this important relationship has not been explored nearly enough to fully prevent or accommodate many conflicts that have arisen. Another major issue lies within a company's cultural environment where multicultural groups tend to perform tasks divergent from their own personal goals. (Hammer, M. & Champy, J.: 1993)
The idea of conflict theory provides a framework for examining various types of conflict within organizational groups.
The basic concept of conflict theory was founded on a classic "pyramid" structure in which a small number of elites dictated over the larger masses. All major institutions, laws, and traditions in a society are designed to support those who have traditionally been in power, or those groups who have been deemed superior in this pyramid. On the other hand, any activity or perception that challenged authority would be considered "deviant." At both the macro and micro levels, conflict theory originally sought to catalogue the ways in which those with power stay in power. However, modern conflict theory is now extending its application to multicultural companies by discussing cultural dimensions in conflict and resolutions of multicultural conflicts.
Conflict has been predominately viewed as a detriment to work performance. Thus, it is understandable that today's managers overwhelmingly view conflict as something to be avoided or immediately resolved. Recent studies, however, have examined the benefits of organizational conflict and methods for stimulating productive conflict. Even conflict can leverage work...
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