<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The purpose of the present article is to examine the prevailing model of systematic organizational conflict management from an organizational communicative perspective and to suggest directions for improvement. Particularly the model of conflict management system (CMS) is examined at the macro-level from the novel theoretical perspective of social complexity augmented with an interpretive view of organizational communication. Specifically two models – the dual function of communication and the arena model – are utilized to illustrate weaknesses and points of development in traditional CMS thinking. CMS was found to represent a rather limited vision of contemporary conflict management. It is rooted in a mechanistic view of organizational communication, which, we assert, is problematic from the organizational conflict management perspective, both theoretically and practically. The differences between CMS and social complexity approaches are identified, and a fresh framework for strategic conflict management is introduced.</p></abstract>

The purpose of the present article is to examine the prevailing model of systematic organizational conflict management from an organizational communicative perspective and to suggest directions for improvement. Particularly the model of conflict management system (CMS) is examined at the macro-level from the novel theoretical perspective of social complexity augmented with an interpretive view of organizational communication. Specifically two models – the dual function of communication and the arena model – are utilized to illustrate weaknesses and points of development in traditional CMS thinking. CMS was found to represent a rather limited vision of contemporary conflict management. It is rooted in a mechanistic view of organizational communication, which, we assert, is problematic from the organizational conflict management perspective, both theoretically and practically. The differences between CMS and social complexity approaches are identified, and a fresh framework for strategic conflict management is introduced.

Organizational Communication and Conflict Management Systems

Professor, Media and Communication Studies, Department of Social Science, University of Helsinki

Researcher, Media and Communication Studies, Department of Social Science, University of Helsinki

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

A Social Complexity Approach

The purpose of the present article is to examine the prevailing model of systematic organizational conflict management from an organizational communicative...

Organizational Communication and Conflict Management Systems

Published Online: Jan 30, 2017

Page range: 125 - 141

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0125

Keywords
conflict management, conflict management system, social complexity, organizational communication

© 2010 Pekka Aula et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Organizational Communication and Conflict Management Systems

Published Online: Jan 30, 2017

Page range: 125 - 141

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0125

Keywordsconflict management, conflict management system, social complexity, organizational communication

© 2010 Pekka Aula et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
conflict management, conflict management system, social complexity, organizational communication