Experience of Social Workers in Dealing with Organizational Conflict.

Abstract: The aim of this study was is to examine the descriptions of expereince made by social workers from different countries regarding workplace conflict and how workplace conflict is dealt with in terms of strategies and methods of resolving it. To adress this topic the conflict theory of Lewis Coser is used. The study is conducted by the use of semi-structured qualitative interviews, where experience of five social workers in manageral positions are examined. Three of these interviewees were from Sweden and two were from Russia. The results of this study show that the social workers describe their experience and knowledge about organizational conflict in different ways and to different exents. Russian and Swedish interviewees seemed to be familiar with workplace conflict and the use different methods and strategies when dealing and preventing conflict at the workplace. The interviewees acknowledge the impact of management and leadership regarding both cause of conflict.