Organizational duels: The role of cultural frames and interaction rituals in limiting conflict escalation

Organizational conflict studies show that conflict escalation often leads to paralysis or breakup. In a longitudinal study of conflict escalation endangering organizational survival between two coalitions and their leaders, we discovered that conflict escalation was reversed by enacting an appropriate interaction ritual structured according to a conflict-limiting cultural frame, namely the ‘figurative duel’. Mentioned as an important interaction ritual by Goffman, figurative duels derive from the cultural-cognitive remnants of historical duels and present three defining characteristics: respectful ritual conduct, high risk, and high visibility. These characteristics are cues priming a conflict-limiting frame for the parties involved in the fight. The duel is played out on a symbolic plane following a violation leading to both loss of face at individual level and substantial strain of the status and power system of the organization. In the following restoration process, duelers, as individuals and collective actors, restore their ‘faces’ and create ground for renewed cooperation. Developing Goffman’s intuition, we contend that, whilst in the public realm the term ‘duel’ is only used in the context of sports, politics, and market fights between iconic firms, figurative duels are important and overlooked interaction rituals for limiting organizational conflict escalation.