The causes for conflicts in projects find their origin in 3 dimensions: individual, team and environment. Understanding the models presented here will help you to see conflicts in a different mode.
Conflicts are not a negative factor when they are applied for what their purpose is in projects. The purpose is to clarify things. The following examples will explain this.
| Conflict | Purpose |
| To show that we all are different |
| To show that each culture (including our own) has its positive and its negative |
| To show that each party has its own view of the truth and that misunderstandings is a part of live. |
| To show that running a project is not an easy task, but also a very responsible task |
We could go on, but the message is clear. A conflict gives the members in the team the ability to learn, to gain experience. The projectmanager is responsible for managing the conflicts in his project. He needs an understanding of the needs of the stake-holders in his team or in the environment and also an open ear to all the parties involved in the conflict.
According to Thomas-Kilmann there are 5 conflict handling modes depending on the level of assertiveness and cooperativeness. Each mode has its own advantages and disadvantages. The five modes are: avoiding, competing, compromising, accommodating and collaborating. Each individual has its own preference, knowing them gives light to your effectiveness in certain conflicts.