How can conflict resolution improve project management?

This is one of the main reasons that lead the conflicts toward disputes and ultimately puts the parties in the awkward position of the dispute resolution mechanisms. Therefore, effective identification of the source of conflict is very important. It mitigates the assumptions and parties can collaborate on much positive note. Sometimes conflicts are due to minor reasons that are built on misconceptions and lack of open communication. Therefore, the process of identification should be thoroughly followed before jumping to conclusions.

Knowing the conflict and running for the solution is not a good cure. It's just like you cover a dirt with some sand and once sand flows out, conflict pops again. It's a necessity to analyze the conflict through transparent communication and fare deal. Once you reach to the bottom of cause, you can solve the problem forever. And the same can be recorded in the list of lesson learned. This will help others to avoid such repetitions and save time for other constructive work. In project management time is an asset and that should not be wasted in doing experiments on all repeating cases.

Listening and extraction of others explanations is an art. I have my own experience and finding a better way upon listening others views. Sometimes the person sitting in front of me is narrating different issues and that gives me a way to think on the other side of his body language. The speaking person himself couldn't guess that the provided solution is an extract of his own language. This is an art. Try to listen others and make your own way.

One of the major reasons for conflicts is misunderstanding. One must try to listen carefully and only take the words for what they mean and do not try to suppose. Ask if you have any ambiguity.

We should always strive for open communication between the parties fostering an environment of trust and empathy. Listen carefully to the concerns of the other parties and putting your concerns in an open dialogue can help resolve many conflicts on the table. Therefore, there should always be focus on the open communication.

Finding a common ground where the interests of both parties are well served can be found through negotiation and collaborative efforts. Instead of firmly sticking to our position, we should aim for a solution that does not compromise the trust and business/mutual relationship. There are multiple ways to agree on something just an effort to explore those ways is needed from the parties.

The two areas that conflicts affect the most are stakeholder management and scope definition. Any conflict between functions, disciplines, or teams create a boat that is trying to row to different directions, which creates churning and translates to sunk time, effort and dollars. Conflicts also prevent the team from focusing on a single goal for the team to achieve, lack of proper scope definition. This is especially harmful if the end user team is involved in the conflict. Short solution for project conflicts: - try to understand the root cause of it, rather than focusing on the syndromes. - as the project management team, analyze and propose a solution by getting the different groups together.

A clear concise communication plan, stakeholder engagement, and precise scope of end state deliverables is absolutely the beginning of remediating conflict or difficulties encountered during any project lifecycle.

Conflicts usually arise due to individuals seeing themselves as member of the functional group instead of the team to achieve a common goal. This creates iteration between the team member in the form of conflict in order to prove their point which in not healthy for the organization and the team itself. Thus, teams should be formed in a way that they work towards the common goal instead of safeguarding specific functional groups within the company.