Interpersonal communication and conflict resolution

Abstract

Organizational members need to work out a variety of problems through communications. However, they usually have different opinions on any one issue, due to their differences in personalities, expertise, values, or in other aspects. During the evolution of Chinese enterprises, the emphasis on interpersonal harmony and conflict avoidance, which is drawn from traditional values, often collides with the spirit of justice and professionalism. It has become a unique characteristic of Chinese enterprises and prompted people to start thinking about how to properly communicate and smoothly solve conflicts. In this chapter, we will go through the pros and cons, the types of conflict, various ways of solving conflicts and their applications within Chinese social and organizational settings. Particularly, we will analyze the structural and psychological sources of conflict avoidance, which is the most commonly used approach to conflicts in China. At the end, integrating the previous analysis of conflict-avoidance mechanisms and practices in some Chinese and foreign enterprises, we will discuss some feasible systems and skills for constructive communication, which will contribute to effective communication and conflict management in Chinese enterprises