Conflict

Intro

Con­flict is nor­mal, com­mon-place, un­avoid­able. And healthy. Ger­mans and Amer­i­cans are two ca­pa­ble, proud, and strong-willed peo­ples. When they col­lab­o­rate, they dis­agree over both big and small things.

Crit­i­cal is that they re­solve their dis­agree­ments. And in a way which helps them to move for­ward. Ef­fec­tive con­flict res­o­lu­tion is trans­par­ent, fair and just.

Both so­ci­eties are – for the most part – trans­par­ent, fair and just. But their ap­proaches to re­solv­ing con­flict are not the same. The dan­ger is that the one cul­ture’s ap­proach can seem to the other cul­ture as neither trans­par­ent, nor fair, nor just.

And no or­ga­ni­za­tion can suc­ceed – no col­lab­o­ra­tion can work – if con­flicts go un­re­solved or when one side feels that they have been treated un­justly.

Escalation • Hearing • Evidence • Speed • Acceptance