Indeed, conflict may occur because it serves the interests of groups, particularly, the interests of group powerholders. In many school systems, board members promote antagonisms between school administrators and teachers because they feel that each group does its own job better that way. Also, such antagonism prevents administrators and teachers from forming a cohesive group against the school board. There are five basic functions which conflict serves both among different groups and within a single group. They are connection, definition, revitalization, reconnaissance and replication.
Conflict makes connection.
It is a basic form of exchange and interaction. It is a negotiation. Nine-year old boys and girls, teachers complain, seldom interact except when they quarrel or fight. No one has to fight. They can just walk away.