How do you measure the success of conflict resolution on your project?

1 Define success criteria

Before you can measure the success of conflict resolution, you need to define what success means for your project and your team. Depending on the nature, scope, and complexity of your project, you may have different success criteria for different types of conflicts. For example, you may want to resolve a technical conflict by finding the best solution that meets the project requirements, while you may want to resolve a personal conflict by restoring trust and respect among the team members. You should also consider the expectations and needs of your stakeholders, such as your clients, sponsors, or senior management, when defining success criteria.

2 Choose appropriate metrics

Once you have defined your success criteria, you need to choose appropriate metrics to measure them. Metrics are quantifiable indicators that can help you track and evaluate the progress and outcome of your conflict resolution efforts. For instance, process metrics measure how well you follow the conflict resolution process, such as how quickly conflicts are identified and addressed. Outcome metrics measure the impact of conflict resolution on project results, such as how much time or money is saved or lost due to conflicts. Lastly, relationship metrics measure the effect of conflict resolution on team dynamics, such as how much trust or respect is built or damaged due to conflicts. By using these metrics, you can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your conflict resolution efforts.

3 Collect and analyze data

Once you have chosen your metrics, collecting and analyzing data to measure them is essential. You can obtain data from project documents, tools, surveys, and observations. Project documents may include the project plan, budget, scope statement, risk register, quality plan, and change log. Project tools may include project management software, a dashboard, and a reporting system. Surveys can help you gain feedback from stakeholders and customers. Observations can help you understand the behaviors, emotions, and attitudes of your project team and stakeholders. It's important to collect data regularly throughout the project lifecycle and analyze it using statistical analysis, trend analysis, gap analysis, root cause analysis, or SWOT analysis.

4 Report and communicate results

Finally, you need to report and communicate the results of your conflict resolution measurement to your project team and stakeholders. Doing so can demonstrate the value of conflict resolution, identify strengths and weaknesses in your conflict resolution skills, celebrate achievements, and solicit feedback. When reporting and communicating results, use clear, concise, and relevant formats such as charts, graphs, tables, summaries, and stories. Additionally, tailor your reports and communications to suit the needs of your audience by using different levels of detail, language, and tone for different groups of stakeholders.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?