Hegelian Dialectics as an Approach to Organisational Conflict Management

Abstract

This work titled Hegelian dialectics as an approach to organisational conflict management, aims at providing a better understanding of organisational conflict and thereby fashioning a more effective approach to its management. Hegel believes that human history is merely a series of constant philosophical conflicts. He believed that the highest state of mankind can only be attained through constant ideological conflict and resolution. This reasoning throws a challenge to the traditional approach of conflict management which sees conflict as evil and something to be avoided. Hegel believes conflict is a necessary prerequisite for self-realization. This reasoning when applied to organisational conflict management would mean that a different approach to conflict management would need to be adopted. Conflict here would no longer be seen as an evil to be avoided but as a production force that would lift the organisation forward. This better view of conflict would help spur the organisation up, thus instigating a better managerial approach to its resolution. When conflict is seen this way, conflicting ideas would be seen as an opportunity to build a better idea (synthesis) for the growth and development of the organisation.