Book Review

Hidden Conflict in Organizations: Uncovering Behind-the-Scenes-Disputes (1992) Kolb, D.M, & Bartunek, J.M., J.,(eds,) California:Sage

This book is like vintage wine – aged well, expensive and full of depth and flavour. Authors contend that most literature tends to focus on the public, formal, and rational conduct of conflict and there is insufficient attention to the private, informal and non-rational modes that reflect the way most organisational conflicts are handled – few get to the formal, public stage. Even then, the formal, public, and rational frequently masks the more complex affective dynamic that occurs off-line or back-stage and upon which it often relies for constructive progress. The authors provide in-depth insights into the hidden polarity of organisational conflict and explore the interdependence between the two. In focusing on these neglected dimensions of conflict work, they provide a strong theoretical framework within which to analyse and evaluate the stories of conflict that form the main body of the text. Given managers’ natural tendency to view conflicts as problems to be solved - often marginalizing the more complex organisational issues, the book provides refreshing insights into the multiple meanings a conflict can have for those concerned and draws some useful conclusions about the conduct of organisational conflict and its relationship to interpretation, communication, organisational structure and to change. Probably a book for practitioners and researchers but worth the time it will take to assimilate.

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