We start with the premise that the nature of work is interdependence – that the efforts and results of any person, team, project, etc. are connected to the efforts and results of others. Contested interdependence is a situation in which one or more parties contests that interdependence – disagrees, objects, challenges, disputes it. I’ve chosen to distinguish coordinated and contested interdependence, and to describe conflict as the latter, while acknowledging that disagreements, objections, and challenges could be a healthy part of collaboration. One must draw the line somewhere, and that’s where I did. For conflict handling purpose, working against might be clearer or more direct.
« Back to Glossary IndexContested Interdependence
« Back to Glossary Index