Jordan, Thomas and Lundin, Titti (2002) “Perceiving, interpreting and handling workplace conflicts: Identifying the potential for development”

Originally published in Swedish an English version is a free download from Jordan’s excellent website

This research project, carried out in Sweden, contains many excellent insights into workplace conflict and how to handle it. The report presents the findings of a two-year inquiry to elucidate the differences in the ways people involved in workplace conflicts think about and react to the causes and course of conflict as well as its management. The report details their research methodology and findings. These include a framework of questions and conflict awareness mandala for self-diagnosis that provides us with an excellent tool to help us reflect upon workplace conflict and improve the way we deal with it. It provides an illustrated analysis of what people think about during conflict and explores the different kinds of learning which can arise from experiencing and reflecting upon such conflict. The report also provides six illuminating portraits of how different people think about workplace conflict ranging from those who show little or no ability to reflect to those who demonstrate high quality of reflection. The portraits are all from people who experienced themselves as being in a disadvantaged position and give strong evidence of the value of reflection. The report also offers a curriculum for development through conflicts. It is an outstanding contribution to the field and essential reading for practitioners.