Methods are provided to prevent a potential conflict among first and second instances of SON functions. A first input impact time, first input scope and first objective of the first instance, and a second input impact time, second input scope and second objective of the second instance are obtained. If there is a first overlap among the first input impact time and the second input impact time, whether there is a second overlap among the first input scope and the second input scope is determined. If there is the second overlap, whether the first objective and the second objective are the same or substantially the same is determined. If so, it is determined that the potential conflict exists. If there is the second overlap, whether the first objective contradicts or substantially contradicts with the second objective is determined. If so, it is determined that the potential conflict exists.