The work place has changed and with that fosters a need to handle conflict differently. With the size and scope of todays demographics one size fits all answers to conflict are no longer applicable.
The bases for diverse conflict mangagement is not only a need but a neccessity. In the past you were able to get by with just a simple process for dealing with conflict. The problems amongst workers were few and infrequent. Most conflict situations could be handled quietly and discretely with very few people knowing about any issues except the parties involved.
This is no longer the case the work place is a melting pot of different race, sexual orientation, religious back grounds, world views and the like with everyone looking to have their needs felt and expressed. Conflict occurs even in the most ideal situations but lets throw in today's information age worker who is put on a team with nothing but baby boomers and he is the manager.
Besides the age difference there is a completeley different thought process amongst them. This is mild when compared to having men who are openly homosexual work with teams of men and women who have judeo christian values there is bound to be some tension.
Many people today spend most of their working days amongst their work colleagues and the more diverse the group of workers the higher chances of conflict to occur. This is not to say that conflict can be minimized and avoided as much as possible but when it occurs and the emphasis is when traditional means of conflict management will not work.
The atmosphere that exists today is potentially volatile. As we witness the recent Wall street protest people are not going to sit quietly and you must be prepared. The bases for diverse conflict management system is only logical when you take in all the factors that exist today.
