Conflict Resolution Case Study

 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT 

CASE

Jeet worked in Purple, which worked for a social cause. She held a position where she was responsible for an adopted project area. The organization she worked for was divided into different wings and projects. There were four wings and two projects. Jeet had two co-heads, Harish and Vedika. All three formed a strong team and were relentlessly working for the betterment of the organization and their project area. They tried to engage in activities of other wings and projects, taking it as their responsibility to support other leaders. 

After a time of one month, the three leaders, Jeet, Harish, and Vedika started to feel side-lined by other leaders of the organization. When they used to go and ask for a budget for their events, the person responsible for budgeting always took their reasons negatively. There was clear discrimination from the organization's side regarding supporting Jeet’s work. Despite all the hurdles, Jeet and the team tried their best to conduct a few events independently. 

Apart from Purple, Jeet was doing an internship in another organization for better experience and income. Her teammates were also doing the same, as Purple did not pay them enough. Jeet was an ambivert who spoke to a selected set of people. Even then, she tried to keep in touch with every person in Purple. She went out partying, planned future events, and helped the organization to prepare for an excellence certificate. 

Despite all the efforts, she could not connect with the rest of the leaders, creating a huge communication barrier between them. The other leaders did not support Jeet’s project even though Jeet showed enthusiasm and support for them. There was no reciprocation; instead, there was unnecessary criticism. Eventually, Jeet stopped getting the required budget for her programs even after her team pleaded with the organization. There was a situation of conflict where the purpose of the organization was lost, and it became a toxic place to work in. 

Later, after Jeet spoke with HR, he later said that the other organization members thought that her behavior was intimidating. They said she did not hang out with them, so they did not like talking to her, hence the side lining. The budget did not get approved because other members snitched her to the manager of Jeet’s imbalanced work ethic. She worked in another organization, so they did not consider her loyal. This affected Jeet, and it made her resign from the organization. 

PARTIES INVOLVED 

1. Jeet

2. Harish

3. Vedika

4. Purple (Organization)

5. The other organization

6. Other leaders

7. HR

PROBLEM 

1. Other team members did not try making a bond with Jeet because she worked in another other organization too. 

2. The manager was influenced by his juniors

3. Lack of communication from other team members

4. Lack of interest in resolving the conflict

5. Failure of the organization to create a safe space for their employees

6. Non-flexible mindset of office staff

7. Lack of support from the organization side to support the future events

8. Less work on cause and more focus on superiority complex

SOLUTION 

Many scholars like Janjua (2002) divide the conflict into three types. The first type is Conflict between individuals, which may happen from many organizational factors. The most common factor is the differences between personalities and personally interesting. Some may be because of the difference of opinions about the matter related to work or from each other, especially if there is a difference between the individuals' levels at work (Organizational Climate, 2009).

1. Jeet could have spoken up to HR way before she did.

2. Proper research about an organization should be done beforehand. Speaking to senior employees could be a plus point because they can give an overview of the environment and work ethic of the organization.

3. Jeet did not confront fellow employees about their behavior because she was an ambivert. Confronting may have helped.

4. If she was facing a problem with the budget, she could have done fund raising activities and raised her budget

5. She could have managed her finances and personal life better if she gave her hundred percent to Purple instead of splitting her time in two work lifes