Paper Summary:

The paper explains that both conflict and decision-making are part of family behavior and they are both important in improving the communication within a family. The paper then discusses how diversity effects conflict in two ways; the conflict about the task at hand as well as the emotional conflict related to the task. The paper asserts that the goal is to get the right mix of ideas, attitudes and opinions so that individuals can agree to disagree but still go on to get the job done. The paper believes that involving all family members who are old enough and mature enough to think about and make decisions may increase conflict and diversity, but will also increase options.

From the Paper:

"Having diversity in a family can be a great thing or a bad thing, depending on what the diversity involves and how much of it there is. People should be encouraged to be themselves and to be different, but only if it does not come at the cost of the safety and well-being of others. Diversity plays a large role in conflict and decision making. Both conflict and decision making are part of family behavior, and they are both important. Decision making moves a family in a new direction. Hopefully, that direction will be forward, but sometimes bad decisions are made, so decision making is not always good. Conversely, conflict is not always bad. It can sometimes come about because of bad decisions, but this can turn out for the good when conflicts are brought to the table and resolved. Often, this improves the communication within a family and helps those who are in charge of making the decisions make better ones in the future, thus moving the family as a unit forward."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Eisenhardt, KM (Spring, 1999). Strategy as strategic decision making. Sloan Management Review.
• Jehn, KA., Northcraft, GB & Neale, MA. (December, 1999). Why Differences Make a Difference: A Field Study of Diversity, Conflict, and Performance in Workgroups. Administrative Science Quarterly.
• Pelled, LH, Eisenhardt, KM, & Xin, KR (March, 1999). Exploring the black box: an analysis of work group diversity, conflict, and performance. Administrative Science Quarterly.

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