Conflict and motivation in an organization
Motivation is the energy that sets off, directs and upholds goal-oriented conduct. It is that force pushes people to put more effort in the responsibilities assigned to them. The most prominent theories applied in achieving motivation are: the theory of instinct, the theory of incentive, the drive theory, the theory of arousal, and the humanistic theory of motivation. According to the instinct theory, people behave the way they do due to evolutionary programming. Making employees feel attached to the organization is one way of applying this theory (Knights & Willmott, 2007). According to the theory of incentive, people get provoked to work by external rewards. Organizations apply this theory by good remuneration and incentives for outstanding performance. The drive theory is based on the assertion that individuals are inspired by the urge to satisfy unsatisfied needs. According to arousal hypothesis, people are motivated to keep the best possible intensity of encouragement. The humanistic theory is based on the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Miner, 1993).
All organizations come across conflicts every day. Conflicts are a fundamental part of the day by day life but can possibly be controlled. The most important of these strategies of dealing with conflict are: collaborating, avoiding, dominance or competing, accommodating and compromising (Jost, 2007). Collaboration is applied where there is trust between the conflicting parties. Compromising is applicable where the parties at conflict are equal in rank, and the objectives under the inconsistency are moderately significant. Accommodating strategy is applied where there is a need for harmony in the organization. Dominance strategy is used where one party in the conflict is a superior. The strategy of avoidance is applied where more information is needed and where an important relationship is at stake (Jost, 2007).
References
Jost, P. (2007). Strategic Conflict Management. Northampton. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited
Knights, D; Willmott, H. (2007). Introducing Organizational Behavior. London. Thompson Learning Publishers
Miner, B.J (1993). Role Motivation Theories. London. Routledge Publishers
