Stages in the Conflict Process

Stages in the Conflict Process

The sources of conflict are inherent of the organization’s mode of operations. The stages in the conflict process are:

• Latent conflict
• Perceived conflict
• Felt conflict
• Manifest conflict
• Conflict aftermath

Conflict is a dynamic process that does not usually appear suddenly. In fact, conflict generally passes through several stages:

1. Latent conflict – At this stage, the basic conditions for conflict exist but have not been recognized by the involved parties.
2. Perceived conflict – The basic conditions for conflict are recognized by one or both of the parties.
3. Felt conflict – Internal tensions begin to build in the involved parties, but the conflict is still not out in the open.
4. Manifest conflict – The conflict is out in the open and the existence of the conflict becomes obvious to other parties who are not involved.
5. Conflict aftermath – The conflict is stopped by some method. How the conflict is stopped established new conditions that lead either to a new conflict or to more effective cooperation between the involved parties.

A particular conflict situation does not necessarily pass through all of the stages. In addition, the parties who are involved in the conflict may not be at the same stage at the same time. For example, it is entirely possible for one party to be at the manifest stage, while one party is at the perceived stage.