COMMUNICATION

SKILLS
MUTL 101
GROUP 7 PRESENTATION
LEVEL 1.1
GROUP MEMBERS :
TADIWANASHE MWETA C
M241089F
TAKUDZWA MADEWEKUNZE E
M241035H
PANASHE NYIKA H
M241036Z
PANASHE ZINGORE P
M241121K
BRIAN NYAMUTSWA
M241115X
 PRESENTATION BY

TADIWANASHE MWETA

Causes of conflicts in teams

Introduction
• Conflict is basically any situation where there is a
disagreement or difference of opinion between two or
more people.
• This could lead to negative outcomes , like stress,
decreased productivity and damaged relationships.
• So when it comes to teams , it is very important to
know and understand the causes of conflict so that
they could either be avoided or resolved as quickly as
possible.
1. Lack of communication

• It refers to the insufficient or ineffective exchange of

information, ideas and feedback within a team.
• This leads to misunderstandings arising incomplete
information, assumptions and very poor feedback by
team members.
• Hence good leadership and better communication
systems should be established
2.Differences in goals and objectives
3.Personality clashes
4.Role ambiguity
5.Power struggles
• These are tensions that arise within a team due to
perceived inequalities or imbalance in authority and
control.
• These include hierarchy based struggles, competition
for recognition and influence based struggles.
• Addressing power struggles requires proactive
measures to promote fairness, transparency and
collaborating within teams.
6.Cultural differences
• People of different cultures have different
communication styles.
• Some cultures may be more direct and to the point
whilst others are indirect and use more polite
language.
• This could for sure lead to misunderstandings as one
may take another’s style the wrong way or as being
rude and disrespectful.
7.External factors
• These are influences or circumstances outside the immediate control
of the team or organization that impacts team operations and
performance .
• This could be organisational changes like restructuring, mergers or
leadership transitions ,market conditions like the economy itself or
global events like political instability, natural disasters or public health
crises.
• They lead to uncertainty and instability within the team which may
cause fear, anxiety or resistance among team members.
• Conflicts may also arise due to differing interpretations or responses
to these external challenges.
8.Scarce resources
• Limited assets or commodities within the team
• These could be time, a tight budget, equipment or
manpower
• This leads to competition and tension among team
members vying for those resources
•
9.Communication Breakdowns
• Miscommunication or lack of clarity in communication channels can
be a significant cause of conflict within teams. In virtual teams or
those with diverse cultural backgrounds, misunderstandings can
escalate due to differences in communication styles or
interpretations. Clear and effective communication is essential to
prevent conflicts stemming from misinterpretations.
10. Competition Over Resources
• Conflict often arises when there is competition over limited resources
such as information, funding, equipment, or access to technology. For
instance, if one team member consistently monopolizes shared
resources or infringes on others’ allocated time or space, it can lead
to resentment and conflict among team members.
Conclusion
References
1. Mary Scanell 2010,the big book of conflict games
2. Ahmed Adamu ISA, conflicts in organisations : causes and
consequences article, January 2015
3. Health Education article, January the workplace
4. (Tweet)6 common causes of workplace conflicts and how to avoid
them: Om Place 2019
5. 5(Blog-infoQ) Common causes of team conflict:Sativa Pahuja, jun 02
2014