Long-term relationships depend on cooperation. To achieve this, individuals need to be able to substitute for each other, influence one another and have a positive attitude towards one another. Trust is a core issue at the beginning of a business relationship but a secondary concern at the start of a romantic relationship.

As organisations continue to restructure work teams, the need for training in conflict resolution will grow. Conflict arises from differences and when individuals come together in teams their differences in terms of power, values and attitudes contribute to the creation of conflict. To avoid the negative consequences that can result from disagreements, most methods of resolving conflict stress the importance of dealing with disputes quickly and openly. Conflict is not necessarily destructive, however. When managed properly, conflict can result in benefits for a team.

Conflict arises from differences. When individuals come together in work teams their differences in terms of power, values and attitudes, and social factors all contribute to the creation of conflict. It is often difficult to expose the sources of conflict. Conflict can arise from numerous sources within a team setting and generally falls into three categories: communication factors, structural factors and personal factors (Varney, 1989).