Intergroup Conflict Resolution
The intergroup conflict intervention is designed specifically to help two or more groups or departments within an organization resolve dysfunctional conflicts. Different approaches to resolving intergroup conflict form a continuum from behavioral solutions to attitudinal change solutions. Behavioral methods are oriented to keeping the relevant parties physically separate and specifying the limited conditions under which interaction will occur. Little attempt is made to understand or change how members of each group see the other. Behavioral interventions seem most applicable where task interdependence between conflicting groups is relatively low and predictable. Conversely, the Organization Development (OD) solution to intergroup conflict described below favors an attitudinal change strategy. These interventions typically require considerably more skill and time than do the behavioral solutions. Changing attitudes can be quite difficult in conflict situations, especially if the attitudes are deep seated and form an integral part of people’s personalities. Attitudinal change interventions should be reserved for those situations in which behavioral solutions might not work.