From Conflict to Creativity: How Resolving Workplace Disagreements Can Inspire Innovation and Productivity
by Sy, Barbara, and Daryl Landau
Jossey-Bass Press, San Francisco, 2001, 224 pages

The core concept of From Conflict to Creativity is that conflict is an essential ingredient of creative thinking. There are dangers, of course, but avoiding conflict can also mean that the company, organization, or government unit is missing an opportunity to be creative, even brilliantly so. As the authors state: "... we should not be overly concerned about organizational conflict because the real issue is not its presence but how it is handled. If conflict is managed effectively, the workplace can be a pleasant and stimulating environment."

Does this sound like a tightrope, with angry turf battles on one side, and apathy on the other? Yes, and the authors acknowledge the problem. The book contains many dos and don'ts and helpful hints to assist the manager or facilitator in walking that tightrope and in bringing the team along for the walk. Another nice feature is the use of many stories and short examples. These are scattered throughout the book, and often follow a theoretical statement, so that the reader is told that something will work and then a real example of that very situation is provided.

From Conflict to Creativity is an easy read, and that is meant in the best possible way. It contains ideas that are clearly stated and tied together from chapter to chapter. It should be of considerable value to professionals seeking to expand their skills and service horizons. These not only include mediators and facilitators, but also business leaders, managers, committee members, and work teams.

Mr. Krauss is Director of Community and Court Programs for the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management. His mediation experience is primarily in the fields of personnel, small business, union grievance, land use, and environmental concerns.

This book review appeared in ACResolution, the Quarterly Magazine of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Spring 2002.