1 Different goals and priorities

One of the main sources of conflict in product innovation teams is the misalignment of goals and priorities among team members, stakeholders, and customers. For example, some team members may focus on delivering a high-quality product, while others may prioritize speed and efficiency. Similarly, some stakeholders may have different expectations and requirements than the customers who will use the product. These divergent goals and priorities can lead to confusion, frustration, and resentment among team members and affect the quality of the product.

To avoid this source of conflict, product innovation teams should establish clear and shared goals and priorities at the beginning of the project and communicate them frequently throughout the process. They should also involve relevant stakeholders and customers in the feedback and validation stages to ensure that the product meets their needs and expectations.

2 Different perspectives and opinions

Another source of conflict in product innovation teams is the diversity of perspectives and opinions among team members. While diversity can be a source of creativity and innovation, it can also create clashes and misunderstandings when team members have different backgrounds, experiences, values, and preferences. For example, some team members may prefer a more structured and formal approach, while others may favor a more flexible and informal one. Some team members may have more expertise and authority than others and may impose their views or disregard others' inputs.

To avoid this source of conflict, product innovation teams should foster a culture of respect and inclusion, where team members appreciate and value each other's perspectives and opinions. They should also encourage open and constructive communication, where team members listen actively, ask questions, provide feedback, and seek clarification. They should also use effective tools and methods to facilitate collaboration, such as brainstorming, prototyping, testing, and iterating.

3 Different roles and responsibilities

A third source of conflict in product innovation teams is the ambiguity or overlap of roles and responsibilities among team members. For example, some team members may not have a clear understanding of what their tasks and deliverables are, or how they contribute to the overall project. Others may have overlapping or conflicting roles and responsibilities, such as design, development, marketing, or testing. This can lead to duplication of work, gaps in work, or interference in work, which can affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the team.

To avoid this source of conflict, product innovation teams should define and assign clear and specific roles and responsibilities for each team member at the start of the project and review them regularly throughout the process. They should also establish clear and transparent communication channels and reporting mechanisms, where team members update each other on their progress, challenges, and achievements. They should also seek and offer support and assistance when needed and acknowledge and celebrate each other's contributions.

4 Different personalities and styles

A fourth source of conflict in product innovation teams is the variation of personalities and styles among team members. For example, some team members may be more introverted or extroverted, more analytical or intuitive, more assertive or accommodating, more optimistic or pessimistic, or more risk-averse or risk-seeking than others. These differences can affect how team members interact, communicate, solve problems, and make decisions, which can create conflicts and tensions in the team.

To avoid this source of conflict, product innovation teams should learn and understand each other's personalities and styles, and how they affect their work and behavior. They should also adapt and adjust their own personalities and styles to the needs and preferences of the team and the project. They should also respect and leverage each other's strengths and weaknesses, and avoid stereotypes and judgments.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?