Skip to content

ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Sources of conflict and techniques for conflict resolution

Two managers in a company openly disagree about whether to adopt a new accounting system. The disagreement forces the board to examine costs and risks it had not considered, and a better-informed decision is made. Which statement best describes this?

This is functional conflict, because the disagreement improved the quality of the decision by exposing costs and risks that had been overlooked. Conflict is judged by its effect on organisational performance, not by whether disagreement was open.

  1. ADysfunctional conflict, because the managers disagreed openly
  2. BFunctional conflict, because it improved the quality of decision makingCorrect
  3. CSuppression of conflict, because the board made the final decision
  4. DConflict avoidance, because the system was eventually adopted

Explanation

The disagreement led the board to consider overlooked factors and make a better decision, which is the hallmark of functional conflict. Open disagreement is not in itself dysfunctional; what matters is the outcome. The board did not avoid or suppress the conflict.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Sources of conflict and techniques for conflict resolution shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Sources of conflict and techniques for conflict resolutionFree diagnostic mock

More Sources of conflict and techniques for conflict resolution questions