CHAPTER 8

Cross-Cultural Conflict and Conflict Resolution

Contextualizing Background Information

Hellriegel, Slocum, and Woodman1 have defined “conflict” as follows: “Any situation in which there are incompatible goals, cognitions, or emotions within or between individuals or groups that lead to opposition.” This definition allows the anticipation of a few potential areas of complexity that would certainly become more acute when conflict takes an intercultural dimension.

Incompatible goals can certainly cause disruption within a business setting, but when people involved in the conflict are from different cultural backgrounds, such disruption can rapidly escalate. Reasons for greater confusion can include the fact that it may become more difficult ...

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