ABSTRACT
The initial phases of collaboration can be giddy with excitement and optimism. Everyone is on good behavior, differences are frequently minimized, and collaboration can feel supremely energizing. Project troubles start to surface when the work is well underway and hard decisions need to be made. Stakeholders have decidedly different needs, values, objectives, and processes, creating task conflicts. Teams themselves are made up of people with various strengths and quirks-their interpersonal stumbles and clashes create conflicts. However, if we are realistic, we can accept that conflict is inevitable, and even beneficial.
