Describe the Sources of Conflict Between the Two Bodyguard Teams and Their Leaders (jason and Etienne)? How Did the Teams Resolve the Conflict?

ASSESSMENT  : MARO-OB MATERIAL

INVICTUS

Q1.  CONFLICT AND NEGOTIATION:   Describe the sources of conflict between the two bodyguard teams and their leaders (Jason and Etienne)? How did the teams resolve the conflict?

Conflict within organizations is inevitable and comes from several sources. In addition to we-they situations resulting from group membership, conflict is likely to occur anywhere in the organization where there are “joints” or interdependent interfaces between different functions. Common causes of conflict are differences in values,, interests, personalities, education, culture, perceptions, goals, and expectations. Conflicts may also arise from deficient information that causes misunderstandings or when there are power or status differences (Osland, Kolb, Rubin & Turner, 2007, p.341-342; Duxbury, 2016, Week Eight, Slide 6).

In the scenario described in Invictus, the two bodyguard teams viz. Blacks led by Jason and Whites led by Etienne don’t see each other eye to eye. The main source of conflict between the teams was perception. The President himself selected Etienne and his team because he believes that when he is in public, the bodyguards directly represent him, so both Black and White bodyguards will depict to public that he carries no hatred against white Afrikaners. However, on other hand Jason and his team members believe that till yesterday these Afrikaners were against them, kept Mandela in prison for so many years and carried out all kind of atrocities to black people so how can they trust them and allow them in President’s personal security. Jason was afraid that they might fall in trouble because of white people in security team.

The second main source of conflict was culture. Nelson Mandela along with black population had gone through the tough times, there was hatred against white people, in addition a lot of work was to be done to rebuild the nation, a news correspondent also said that Mandela has to balance black aspirations with white fears. The President was always on a very hectic schedule, to which when Etienne enquired when do President and his security team will rest, Jason reacted in very unpleasant manner that if President can do it so could they. On knowing that Nelson Mandela was called as Madiba by people, Jason clarified it to Etienne that only black people call him by this name.

The conflict was visible throughout in their interaction both verbal and non verbal, be it body language or the facial expressions, once when the President went in public Etienne called his people to stop the President but Jason overruled his orders and said “no stay with him”. During the rugby match when the white security guards were watching and enjoying the match, Jason didn’t like that and signalled them to better look at the crowd for security and not the match.

As time progressed, the white bodyguards realized that Nelson Mandela was different than other statesmen with whom they have worked earlier and that he was a gentleman and a noble person and he carried no hatred against Afrikaners. In fact, a white bodyguard mentioned it to Francois, when he came to meet the President, that when the President learnt that he likes English chocolates he brought him the chocolates while coming back from an official visit from England. At the same time, Jason had also been watching President putting all his effort and energy to integrate both whites and blacks into united South Africa and telling people to adapt reconciliation, forgive and start afresh. Jason also realized that White bodyguards were also doing their job sincerely and posed no threat to the President, then the tensions started to ease. When the two sources of conflict, perception and culture started to diminish the relations between the two teams became more healthy. During the world cup mania, even the black bodyguards were seen playing rugby with their white counterparts.

Q2. TEAMS:  Using the theory presented in class and in your book and examples from the movie describe how the rugby team developed over time and improved its performance from mediocre to winning the World Cup championship.

The Content and Process concept states that there are two types of group processes: Task process and Maintenance process. Task process focuses on how groups accomplish their work, including setting agendas, figuring out time frames, generating ideas, choosing techniques for making decisions and solving problems, and testing agreement. Maintenance process concerns how group function with regard to meeting group member’s psychological and relationship needs. It includes issues such as leadership, membership, norms, communication, influence, conflict management, and dealing with difficult members and dysfunctional behaviours (Osland et al., 2007, p. 257; Duxbury, 2016, Week Seven, Slides 13-15). In Invictus, both Task and Maintenance process were missing initially in the team, there was neither planning nor cohesiveness in the team, everybody seemed to be playing their own game and blaming defeat on thin air, Francois also seemed to be not very powerful and effective in binding the team. However as the time progressed, we observed that the underdogs converted into hot team.

The five stages model of group development states that mot new groups evolve through stages. Effective team leaders help the group successfully weather each stage in which members confront specific issues that influence their behaviour. The five stages are : Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning (Osland et al., 2007, p. 256).  The Springbok had a prestigious past, the rugby is being played in South Africa since 1891, so they were above Forming stage but in recent times it was going through the difficult phase, it was beaten by England severely in the series, this was pointed out by the sports correspondent also when he said that Francois’ team came to the stadium unprepared and arrogant. At the same time the President Mandela also developed a plan to use rugby as a tool to unite South Africa. Firstly, he placed high responsibility on Francois’ shoulders to win the World Cup and secondly, he asked the rugby team to conduct coaching clinics in the townships across country, this was to make people aware of rugby and make them cheer for South Africa (explained in detail in Q No. 5). The team members didn’t like the President’s proposal and asked Francois to get the orders cancelled, but Francois was aware of the grand plan of President, so he conveyed to his team that these orders cannot be revoked and the time has changed so they should also change and also told them that they are much more than just a rugby team. The team didn’t like Francois approach and were unwilling to conduct the coaching clinics. It can be observed that the Springboks were passing through Storming stage of group development as members confronted each other and there were tensions and criticism all around.