1.1 Level and sources of conflict
Level of conflict:
- Intrapersonal: Conflict within oneself due to difference in goal, role and personal value.
- Interpersonal: Conflict between individual or small groups.
- Intragroup: Conflict between larger group or team.
- Intergroup: Conflict between two or more organizations.
- International: Conflict between countries.
Sources of conflict:
- Miscommunication: Confusion and misunderstandings in conversation.
- Difference in values: Disagreement due to different belief or principles.
- Limited resource: Conflicts over scare things like money or time.
- Role ambiguity: Unclear expectation about roles and responsibilities.
- Personality clashes: Dispute arising from different personalities and styles.
1.2 Conflict resolution method
- Avoidance: Ignoring the issue and conflicts.
- Diffusion: Using humor to ease tension or defuse into multiple sector.
- Containment: Managing emotion to prevent escalation.
- Confrontation: Addressing the conflict directly.
- Conciliation: Bringing a neutral person to help parties agree.
- Mediation: A mediator helps parties find middle ground.
- Arbitration: A neutral person decides the solution.
- Litigation: Taking the conflicts to court for a decision.
1.3 Dispute resolution method
- Adjudication: An experts decide the outcome and both parties must follow it.
- Arbitration: A neutral person hears both sides and make decision like a judge but outside a court.
1.4 Difference between conflict and dispute
| Conflict | Dispute |
| Disagreement or clash of interest. | Formal disagreement of ten legal in nature. |
| Can be small, personal or organizational. | Usually involves legal right or obligations. |
| Can be resolved or managed without formal steps. | Often requires legal or formal resolution. |
References:
- Giddens, A. (2009). Sociology. Polity Press.
- Kumar, A. (2014). Engineering Ethics and Human Values. Laxmi Publications.
- Schaefer, R.T. (2018). Sociology: A Brief Introduction. McGraw-Hill Education.
- Manual of Engineering Professional Practice (Nepal Engineering Council)