Role Conflict, Essay Example

In the workplace environment employees have specific jobs for which they are hired and trained to perform. However, as roles in the workplace overlap and individuals are required to function in many roles, it presents role conflict for employees.  Role conflict specifically occurs when an individual is guided to perform more than one role and often are in conflict with the other.  How individuals respond to this conflict. Whether or not they conform, resolve and use general coping strategies depends on the work they do and the commitment they have to the organization.

Martha Jones (1993) in her article Role Conflict: Cause of Burnout or Energizer? States that employees can either confront to both roles or compromise by conforming to both, or avoid the whole issue by rebelling and not conforming to either role. However, it is not totally understood whether role conflict can be a motivator for the employee to rise to the challenge, or a deterrent creating stress and low performance by the employee. Some theories believe that role conflict creates problem-solving skills in the individual which will result in less stress on the employee. This can be a factor creating job satisfaction.

While the dynamics of role conflict would indicate a negative consequent for job satisfaction, there is evidence to show that role conflict actually has a positive impact on individuals and organizations (Jones, 1993). For the most part, if employees are told when they are hired that their roles are ever changing and the duties are not restricted to a certain list, they will recognize that it is a normal condition of their roles to be in flux and possibly contradictory at times.

Further investigations have suggested that role conflict can actually be good for the mental health of employees. It creates tolerance for discrepant viewpoints and provides exposure to many sources of information. It provides flexibility in adjusting to the demands of diverse role partners and reduces boredom (Jones, 1993). This would support the concept of role conflict being an energizer and not a deterrent. One theory relates the situation to the physical sciences where conflict increases available energy supplies (Jones, 1993).

From personal experience I have found that role conflict often increases energy in high performers whereas it creates tension and stress for employees who are low performers. For individuals who are dedicated to the work they do and the services they provide, energy from performing multiple roles is a motivator and energy producing factor. The strength and weakness from role conflict to me can be easily realized depending on the individual. I find the concept of role conflict to be energy producing for my personal character and style.

References

Jones, M. L. (1993). Role conflict: Cause of burnout or energizer? Social Work, 38(2), 136-141.