Explain like I'm five · SW Eng

What is Project Conflict Management?

A story about the author and editor clashing over a deadline — and choosing the right way to work the conflict out.

just one more week, pleaseit has to ship on schedulethe author and editor clash over the deadline

The author and editor clash over the deadline.When two people want different things, friction is bound to happen.

if nobody speaks up about the disagreement...a small disagreement piles up into a bigger conflict

Leave a disagreement buried, and the conflict only grows.A small disagreement piles up into a bigger conflict.

let's find a win for bothConflict management = choosing the right resolution style for the momentthe point isn't erasing conflict — it's knowing how to handle it

Conflict management = choosing the right resolution style for the moment.The point isn't erasing conflict — it's knowing how to handle it.

Collaboratesolve it together, both satisfied
Compromiseeach side gives a little
Smooth / Accommodateone side yields to keep the peace
Forcewhen urgent, decide and push through
FIVE WAYS TO RESOLVE CONFLICTcollaborate — solve together, both wincompromise — split the differenceaccommodate — yield to keep the peaceforce — push through when urgentwithdraw — postpone it (don't overuse this one)

The PMBOK 6th edition sorts conflict resolution into five styles.Withdrawing is an option too, but overusing it just lets conflict pile up.

suppress a conflict, and it blows up laterdeal with it openly, and a better agreement comes outconflict management isn't the skill of erasing conflict — it's the skill of handling it

Conflict management doesn't make conflict disappear.Conflict management is the skill of handling conflict, not erasing it.

In one breath

Project conflict management = handling disagreements among stakeholders using the style that fits the moment (collaborate, compromise, accommodate, force, withdraw) to reach a better outcome.

The PMBOK 6th edition groups conflict-resolution techniques into five: Collaborate/Problem Solve, Compromise/Reconcile, Smooth/Accommodate, Force/Direct, and Withdraw/Avoid. Names and counts vary a little between editions. None is always correct — the right one depends on the conflict's urgency and importance.

When grown-ups say it

Conflict Management
The skill of handling disagreement. Not erasing conflict — handling it.
Collaborate
Solving it together so both sides win. Takes time, but done well, both sides end up satisfied.
Compromise
Each side gives a little. Quick, but not fully satisfying for either side.
Accommodate
One side yields to the other. Good for preserving the relationship.
Force
Pushing through using authority. Fast when urgent, but can hurt the relationship.
Withdraw
Postponing it for now. Overused, it just lets conflict pile up.
Stakeholder Management
Identifying stakeholders and engaging them before conflict even starts. A step of preparation that comes before conflict management.
IS Audit/PMO
The PMO also helps coordinate conflicts across several books. It sometimes mediates beyond a single book. → the checker who watches the whole publishing run
Next story
What Makes a Good Book →
Want another term as a picture book? Request →