Conflict – Potential Collision or Incompatibility

Definition and Conceptual Background

Conflict is a dynamic, interactive process occurring when two or more individuals, groups, or systems perceive their interests, goals, values, or resources as incompatible or directly opposed. While often seen as negative, conflict can also stimulate innovation, reveal hidden problems, and improve processes when managed well.

In aviation and systems engineering, conflict has a specific safety meaning: it indicates potential or projected collisions, such as when aircraft trajectories are on a path to breach prescribed separation minima. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a conflict is a predicted or detected situation where proximity between aircraft, or between aircraft and obstacles, may violate safety standards—a critical foundation for air traffic management (ATM) systems and safety protocols.

Key attributes of conflict:

• At least two conscious actors (people, teams, systems)
• Perceived or real incompatibility (of interests, resources, values)
• An interactive process (communication, negotiation, escalation possible)
• Potential for both constructive (innovation, improvement) and destructive (stress, inefficiency, safety risks) outcomes

Application domains:

• Aviation: Conflict detection/resolution is vital for flight safety and operational reliability.
• Organizations: Guides HR practices, team dynamics, and leadership decision-making.
• Psychology: Informs motivation theories and interpersonal relations.
• Systems Engineering: Addresses incompatibilities in requirements, interfaces, or operational procedures.

Potential Collision or Incompatibility

“Potential collision or incompatibility” describes the underlying, often latent, conditions that create the risk for conflict. In aviation, this refers to aircraft on converging paths or procedural overlaps that could breach safety margins. In organizations, it may involve resource competition, unclear responsibilities, or value misalignments.

Detection and management approaches:

• Aviation: Automated conflict detection tools use radar, ADS-B, and predictive algorithms to provide real-time alerts.
• Organizations: Conflict audits, climate surveys, and open communication channels identify tensions before they escalate.

Table: Examples of Potential Incompatibility

Conflict vs. Disagreement vs. Argument

• Disagreement: Differences in opinion; often constructive, not emotionally charged.
• Argument: Active debate, may be heated; can be constructive or destructive.
• Conflict: Involves negative emotions, perceived threats to interests, and potential for disruption.

Example: In air traffic control, disagreement over sector procedures is a disagreement; if it escalates to a heated debate, it becomes an argument; if persistent and emotional, impairing teamwork, it is a conflict.

Perspectives on Conflict

Modern views recognize that conflict, if managed well, can drive improvement, innovation, and team cohesion.

Conflict Process Models

Overview

Conflict process models explain how conflict emerges, escalates, and is resolved. They allow organizations and safety-critical industries to design targeted interventions for prevention and resolution.

Prominent models:

• Pondy’s Model: Latent, Perceived, Felt, Manifest, Aftermath
• Robbins’ Five-Stage Model: Source, Cognition, Intentions, Behavior, Outcome
• Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI): Competing, Collaborating, Avoiding, Accommodating, Compromising

Five-Stage Conflict Process

1. Potential Opposition (Incompatibility): Underlying conditions (e.g., traffic complexity, unclear roles)
2. Cognition & Personalization: Awareness and emotional investment
3. Intentions: Choice of approach (competing, collaborating, etc.)
4. Behavior: Observable actions (negotiation, instructions, confrontation)
5. Outcomes: Functional (improvements), or dysfunctional (escalation)

Aviation Example:
Controllers detect a trajectory conflict (potential), become aware and concerned (cognition), decide how to respond (intentions), issue avoidance instructions (behavior), and restore safe separation (outcome).

Detailed Breakdown of the Conflict Process

Stage 1: Potential Opposition or Incompatibility

Underlying risk factors include:

• Communication failures: Ambiguity, lack of clarity
• Structural issues: Overlapping roles, unclear authority
• Personal variables: Personality or cultural differences

ICAO Example: Latent risks in airspace design or sector overload increase the chance of trajectory conflicts.

Stage 2: Cognition and Personalization

Conflict becomes recognized and emotionally charged. In high-stress environments like aviation, fatigue or overload can intensify emotional responses.

ICAO Guidance: Emphasizes emotional regulation and situational awareness to maintain performance.

Stage 3: Intentions

Decision about handling the conflict:

• Competing: Assertive intervention (e.g., urgent safety instructions)
• Collaborating: Seeking win-win solutions (e.g., joint planning)
• Avoiding: Deferring action (risky if issues persist)
• Accommodating: Yielding to others for harmony
• Compromising: Mutual concessions for expediency

Stage 4: Behavior

Observable responses such as:

• Issuing instructions or alerts
• Negotiation or escalation
• Written reports or formal meetings

Stage 5: Outcomes

• Functional: Improved safety, coordination, innovation
• Dysfunctional: Stress, breakdowns, operational risk

Types and Sources of Conflict

Forms of Incompatibility

• Goal: Mutually exclusive objectives (e.g., two airlines want the same slot)
• Value: Differing beliefs or safety cultures
• Resource: Competition for limited resources
• Method: Disagreements on processes

ICAO Note: Procedural ambiguities and resource scarcity are frequent sources of operational conflict.

Common Triggers

• Communication breakdowns: Misunderstandings, language barriers
• Structural factors: Overlapping responsibilities
• Personal variables: Personality clashes, fatigue
• External pressures: Weather, regulatory changes

Examples and Use Cases

Workplace Scenario

Situation: Flight operations must allocate limited simulator time between pilot training and recurrent checks. Tensions rise as both teams advocate for their priorities, leading to conflict over resource allocation.

Interpersonal Example

Situation: A controller and supervisor disagree on a new system’s workload impact. Initial disagreement escalates, requiring mediation and collaborative problem-solving.

Decision-Making Example

Situation: An airline’s safety committee debates between flexible or strict fatigue management models. Conflict is addressed through structured negotiation and compromise.

Conflict Management and Resolution

Conflict-Handling Styles

• Competing: Assertive, uncooperative; vital for safety-critical decisions
• Collaborating: Integrative, seeks solutions for all parties
• Avoiding: Passive, may allow issues to linger
• Accommodating: Cooperative, sometimes at a personal or organizational cost
• Compromising: Balanced, practical for rapid resolution

Aviation Best Practices:

• Use structured protocols for urgent safety issues
• Promote non-punitive, open communication for reporting and resolving conflict
• Invest in team resource management (TRM) and human factors training

Conclusion

Conflict—whether expressed as potential collision in aviation or as resource competition in organizations—is an inevitable, multi-stage process. Recognizing its sources, stages, and handling styles enables individuals and organizations to harness conflict constructively, improving safety, collaboration, and innovation. In safety-critical fields, robust detection and resolution protocols are essential for operational excellence and risk reduction.

Further Reading

• ICAO Doc 9859 – Safety Management Manual
• ICAO Doc 10056 – Air Traffic Controller Competency
• Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI)
• Robbins, S.P., “Organizational Behavior”
• Pondy, L.R., “Organizational Conflict: Concepts and Models”

For more on proactive conflict detection and management in your organization or operation, contact us or schedule a demo .