Conflict Management Quotes

The human network

"The organization chart basically shows you the formal rules. But the ropes of the organization, how it actualy works is the human network."
Thorton May

Equilibrium and Chaos

"If equilibrium means death for a living system, then going beyond the productive edge of chaos into the destruction of anarchy is equally self-limiting. Managing conflict enables us to approach the upheaval of chaos (the productive edge) and find invigorating new solutions."
John Ford

Conflicts as patterns of energy

“Perceive all conflicts as patterns of energy seeking a harmonious balance in the whole”

Dhyani Ywhoo, Etowah Cherokee

The system always wins

“Put a good employee in a bad system and the system always wins.”
W. Edwards Deming

Integrated conflict management systems

“The labels ‘dispute resolution system’ or ‘conflict management system’ are commonly used to describe
an organization’s policy of using grievance procedures (sometimes, including mediation and arbitration) to resolve workplace disputes. This can, however, be misleading. There is a distinction between an organization’s policy and its use of a true system. Although a very large number of organizations now use mediation or arbitration in some form, only a minority have instituted true integrated
conflict management systems.”
Track One Committee
SPIDR’s ADR in the Workplace Initiative

To create better health

“To create better health in a living system, connect it to more of itself.”
Meg Wheatley

The vital signs of a living system

“Power, identity, conflict management, and learning might be thought of as the vital signs of a living system”
Pascale, Millemann and Gioja