Conflict attentiveness announces a basic corporate fact. At this juncture, unheeded issues and arguments give rise to increasing messiness within the realm of conflict. Chapter 7, “Conflict Clarity,” outlines what conflict is and how its theoretical and conceptual understanding permits leadership to make use of conflict scenarios and situations rather than ignore or hide from their occurrence. Conflict clarity emerges in the ability to discern, engage, and enact the benefits of disputes. Leadership must understand and conceptualize the coordinates, origins, and potentials of conflict.
Chapter 8, “Conflict and Stakeholder Influence,” announces a basic corporate communication fact. Conflict originates over contrasting stakeholder positions. Once at the stage of conflict, the influence of unintended consequences announces problematic directions conflicting with the expectations of multiple stakeholders.
Chapter 9, “Communication Ethics in Action: BP and Conflict Thoughtlessness,” reveals how British Petroleum’s thoughtless engagement of conflict between and among stakeholders led to one of the most publicly recognized environmental crises in the industry. BP defined conflict inattentiveness in action.