Conflict cannot be avoided since it is an inevitable
aspect of work teams. This paper will discuss the two
types of conflict (i.e., affect and task) that the
research has identified as the most common, describe the
benefits and detriments of conflict, and present the
causes of conflict. Strategies will also be presented to
prevent and to effectively manage conflict. Moreover, a
conflict checklist (i.e., Teams and Conflict Checklist
or TACC) will be presented as a tool to help teams
identify the perceived presence of conflict. Although
conflict is an inevitable aspect of team development,
conflict can provide the basis for constructive and
beneficial outcomes by identifying and managing conflict
effectively.
