Conflict management exists as one of five supervisory competencies within the organization of the U.S. Navy. The structure of conflict management style within the U.S. Navy is structured through proficiencies. The first includes awareness, which openly invites discussion of an issue and does not ignore it (NAVFAC, 2021). The second step consists of the ability to communicate disagreements without offending or attacking the opposing party. The third and intermediate level focuses on a positive outcome by factoring in underlying issues of the conflict. The fourth proficiency, also known as the advanced level, negotiates a win-win scenario that is consistent with the organization’s value. Fifth and last, expert proficiency can resolve conflicts with competing interests even with minimal resources.
As such, a style that would benefit conflict management in the U.S. Navy would prioritize communication, collaboration, mutually beneficial outcomes, and reliance on the values and beliefs of the organization. As the awareness stage dictates that conflict should not be ignored, a style that involves structures such as the Louis. R Pondy’s approach can be utilized to observe the progression of a conflict (Spaho, 2013). Because of the large collectives within the U.S. Navy, team management is essential both in conflict and non-conflict scenarios. As such, the U.S. Navy can implement a style that prioritizes two objectives which include formulating optimal decisions and utilizing them in effective ways that allow the group to achieve goals and objectives (Shetach, 2012). Overall, the U.S. Navy is likely to benefit from a collaborative conflict management style that provides better results through the provision of safe environments for discussion and resources (Hagemann & Stroope, 2012). The combination of the following components and the collaborative management style also adheres to the goals of conflict resolution in the U.S. Navy.
References
Hagemann, B., & Stroope, S. (2012). Conflict management: lessons from the second grade. Association for Talent Development. Web.
NAVFAC. (2021). Conflict management. Web.
Shetach, A. (2012). Conflict leadership: navigating toward effective and efficient team outcomes. The Journal for Quality and Participation, 35(2), 25-30. Web.
Spaho, K. (2013). Organizational communication and conflict management. Management, 18(1), 103-118. Web.