It’s a great question. We can’t do anything meaningful together without working through conflict, because all true relationships eventually experience it. It’s especially the case in a diverse environment with different perspectives, which is one that an academic community should strive to be.
The amount that conflict is allowed grow, I believe, is commensurate with the trust level between the two parties. As trust erodes, almost anything can cause conflict. The best way to keep trust high is by deepening each other’s understanding of the other’s motives and values. The more we understand each