Essay Sample on Mary Parker Follett: Uncovering Conflict Resolution in Management Theory

Introduction

Mary Parker Follett can be considered as a management theorist since she founded the modern management theory. Her contribution to the Management sector involved her research done on workers agreeing to decisions made by organization management out of their own free will. She focused on leadership, authority, and how management can resolve conflicts. Having to first concentrate on disputes, her theory determined ways in which disputes can be resolved in an organization.

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Dominance is one way that her theory uses to solve a conflict. This involves a dominance party having dominated in a dispute over the weak party. It is usually considered the fastest way of resolving a conflict. Moreover, it is also found not to be a convenient way since every party sticks with their viewpoint (Fry & Thomas, 1996). This Leaves room for the conflict to arise again.Compromise is another way that Mary Parker Follett's theory uses in conflict resolving. It usually involves both parties in conflict with one another having to give in a little to resume an interrupted activity that was in progress. It is generally considered a better way than dominance in conflict solving. However, many find it a problematic way since they have to give up something to resolve a dispute.

Moreover, Mary Parker Follett's theory also involves integration as a technique in conflict resolving. This technique is considered to be the best in solving a conflict. It ensures that both parties' interests are considered and served. Integration leads to a collaboration between the two parties (Fry & Thomas, 1996). It creates a way in which new inventions can be meet since the two parties work together satisfied with every action they take.

On leadership, Mary Parker Follett's theory has focused on leadership in management, has, in a big way, contributed to proper governance in an organization. Her view on a leader was that it is someone who is at a position of leading an organization and should have functions such as; coordinating, defining an objective and anticipating. Moreover, she focused on types of leaders.

One type of leadership is positional leadership. This kind of leadership is based on the powers and rights that a particular position grants someone. Thus, by using the skills and rights that one has as a result of being in such a position, it is usually advisable to use them in the right way in the direction of meeting objectives set by an organization (Mc Larney & Rhyno, 1999). This leads to having a sound management system in an organization.

Personality leadership is another type of leadership that leads to having proper management. This is by having a person as a leader as a result of having a strong leadership personality. This kind of leadership is usually easy since it is an essential thing that a leader portrays in his position as a manager.

Moreover, Mary Parker Follett also focused on functional leadership as a type of leadership that contributes in a great way to proper management. This is the type of leadership that results from having people that are good at a particular task being assigned as leaders in their section (Mc Larney & Rhyno, 1999). This contributes to proper management since the one in charge understands in depth the task that they are dealing with, thus making it easy to even guiding the employees.

Conclusion

To conclude, Mary Parker Follett can be considered as a significant change agent due to how she came up with the management theory (Sethi, 1962). It is widely used in dealing with issues that face organization management. She gives insights on a proper approach to management.

References

McLarney, C., & Rhyno, S. (1999). Mary Parker Follett: visionary leadership and strategic management. Women in Management Review, 14(7), 292-304. Doi: 10.1108/09649429910291131

Sethi, N. K. (1962). Mary Parker Follett: Pioneer in Management Theory. Academy of Management Journal, 5(3), 214-221. Doi: 10.2307/254473

Fry, B. R., & Thomas, L. L. (1996). Mary Parker Follett: assessing the contribution and impact of her writings. Journal of Management History (Archive), 2(2), 11-19. Doi: 10.1108/13552529610106824