Shared perceptions of supervisor conflict management style

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten A. Way ◽  
Nerina L Jimmieson ◽  
Prashant Bordia
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Relationship Conflict ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stress Buffering ◽  
Conflict Management Style ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the extent to which employee outcomes (anxiety/depression, bullying and workers’ compensation claims thoughts) are affected by shared perceptions of supervisor conflict management style (CMS). Further, this study aims to assess cross-level moderating effects of supervisor CMS climate on the positive association between relationship conflict and these outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – Multilevel modeling was conducted using a sample of 401 employees nested in 69 workgroups. Findings – High collaborating, low yielding and low forcing climates (positive supervisor climates) were associated with lower anxiety/depression, bullying and claim thoughts. Unexpectedly, the direction of moderation showed that the positive association between relationship conflict and anxiety/depression and bullying was stronger for positive supervisor CMS climates than for negative supervisor CMS climates (low collaborating, high yielding and high forcing). Nevertheless, these interactions revealed that positive supervisor climates were the most effective at reducing anxiety/depression and bullying when relationship conflict was low. For claim thoughts, positive supervisor CMS climates had the predicted stress-buffering effects. Research limitations/implications – Employees benefit from supervisors creating positive CMS climates when dealing with conflict as a third party, and intervening when conflict is low, when their intervention is more likely to minimize anxiety/depression and bullying. Originality/value – By considering the unique perspective of employees’ shared perceptions of supervisor CMS, important implications for the span of influence of supervisor behavior on employee well-being have been indicated.

Testing activity reduces conflict associated strain (ARCAS) model

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay Kuriakose ◽  
Sreejesh S. ◽  
Heerah Jose ◽  
Shelly Jose
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Conflict Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Relationship Conflict ◽  
Management Styles ◽  
Conflict Management Styles ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conflict Management Style ◽  
Affect State

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test the activity reduces conflict associated strain (ARCAS) model with the aid of AET examining the direct effect of relationship conflict on employee well-being and also discussing the mechanism through which relationship conflict influences employee well-being, and also to test the ARCAS model examining whether passive and active conflict management styles influence this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Responses were collected from 554 software engineers using structured questionnaire and postulated relationships were tested using Process Macros. Findings The study established that relationship conflicts are detrimental to employee well-being. It also established the indirect effect of relationship conflict on employee well-being through negative affect state. Negative affect state is an intra-personal mechanism linking relationship conflict and employee well-being. The study also extended the ARCAS model by establishing that passive ways of handling conflict amplify and problem-solving conflict management style mitigates the adverse impact of relationship conflict. Contrary to the prediction, forcing conflict management style was found to amplify the adverse effect of relationship conflict on well-being through negative affect state. Practical implications The findings of the study highlight the detrimental effect of relationship conflict on well-being and highlight the vital role of individual affective states in the conflict process. Furthermore, the study provides valuable insights for managers on how individuals’ conflict management styles influence the effect of relationship conflict on well-being. Originality/value The study specifically examined the effect of relationship conflict on employee well-being and explored the psychological process through which relationship conflict diminishes well-being. Moreover, the study tested and extended ARCAS model with the aid of Affective Events Theory.

Supervisor conflict management climate and emotion recognition skills

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-580
Author(s):  
Kirsten A. Way ◽  
Nerina J. Jimmieson ◽  
Prashant Bordia
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Relationship Conflict ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Employee Burnout ◽  
Emotional Ability ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Groups’ perceptions of their supervisors’ conflict management styles (CMSs) can have important implications for well-being. Rather than being examined in isolation, supervisor CMSs need to be considered in the context of supervisors’ emotional ability and the amount of conflict in workgroups. This paper aims to investigate the three-way interactions between group-level perceptions of supervisor CMSs (collaborating, yielding, forcing), supervisor emotion recognition skills and group relationship conflict in predicting collective employee burnout. Design/methodology/approach Group-level hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted with 972 teaching professionals nested in 109 groups. Findings The positive association between supervisor yielding climate and collective employee burnout was evident when supervisor emotion recognition was low but absent when supervisor emotion recognition was high. Groups with high supervisor forcing climate and high supervisor emotion recognition experienced lower group burnout, an effect evident at high but not low relationship conflict. Practical implications Supervisors have a critical – and challenging – role to play in managing conflict among group members. The detrimental effects of supervisor yielding and forcing climates on collective employee burnout are moderated by personal (supervisor emotion recognition) and situational (the level of relationship conflict) variables. These findings have practical implications for how supervisors could be trained to handle conflict. Originality/value This research challenges traditional notions that supervisor yielding and forcing CMSs are universally detrimental to well-being.

scholarly journals Cultural intelligence and conflict management styles

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 725-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Gonçalves ◽  
Marta Reis ◽  
Cátia Sousa ◽  
Joana Santos ◽  
Alejandro Orgambídez-Ramos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Conflict Management ◽  
Cultural Intelligence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Management Styles ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Conflict Management Styles ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conflict Management Style

Purpose Negotiating effectively in multicultural contexts or others is not only a very important skill for all organizational elements but also crucial to inter-organizational relations (Adler, 2008). If defined as a process that occurs when one party feels adversely affected by another (De Dreu, 1997). Conflict management styles can be analyzed as a function of personality variables. In this respect, cultural intelligence and self-monitoring appear to be relevant variables, as they are characterized by the demonstration of flexibility and interest in elements that are present in conflict management styles. This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which variables such as cultural intelligence and self-monitoring can positively influence the ability to solve interpersonal conflicts more effectively. Design/methodology/approach This study, with a sample of 399 individuals, aimed to test a model that explores how cultural intelligence and self-monitoring are related as predictor variables in the styles of conflict resolution. Findings It was observed that cultural intelligence presents itself as a reasonable predictor of conflict management styles, whereas self-monitoring appeared as a dispositional and controversial measure in relation to those styles. Self-monitoring exhibited itself as an important predictor of conflict management, but on the other hand, it had an influence on the choice of the dominating style in conflict situations. Practical implications Understanding the predictors of conflict management style and, in particular, realizing the extent to which cultural intelligence promotes a more effective conflict management style can help in the development of selection processes and skill training programs. The development of these multicultural skills will contribute to individual, social and organizational well-being. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature of individual differences and conflict management, demonstrating that some individual differences that predict the styles of conflict management can lead to a certain ambiguity in understanding the behaviour that an individual may adopt in situations of conflict.

scholarly journals Does ethnic conflict impede or enable employee innovation behavior?

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Reade ◽  
Hyun-Jung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Conflict Management ◽  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Ethnic Conflict ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conflict Management Style ◽  
Innovation Behavior

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a societal context of ethnic conflict influences employee innovation behavior in the work domain and whether a collaborative conflict management style adopted by supervisors plays a moderating role. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on the conflict, organizational behavior and innovation literature, the study examines the main and interaction effects of employee sensitivity to ethnic conflict, organizational frustration and collaborative conflict management style of supervisors on employee engagement with colleagues to innovate products, services and job processes. Hypotheses are tested using hierarchical regression analysis, controlling for ethnic diversity in workgroups. Findings Employee innovation behavior is greatest when employee sensitivity to ethnic conflict is high, organizational frustration is low and when supervisors are perceived to be highly collaborative in managing conflict, regardless of whether the workgroup is ethnically homogenous or diverse. Research limitations/implications The study findings expand our knowledge of the effects of sociopolitical conflict on employee behavior and the role of collaborative conflict management. Future research can address limitations including self-reports, cross-sectional design and single country setting. Practical implications The findings of this study suggest that employee innovation behavior can be enhanced through developing collaborative conflict management skills of those in leadership positions. Originality/value This is the first study to empirically examine the influence of ethnic conflict on employee innovation behavior and is of value to businesses operating in conflict settings.

Conflict management style and exhaustion in public accounting

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary L. Cooper ◽  
Margaret E. Knight ◽  
M. Lance Frazier ◽  
Daniel W. Law
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Management Styles ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Accounting Firms ◽  
Conflict Management Styles ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Role Stressors ◽  
Individual Perceptions ◽  
Conflict Management Style

PurposeAs exhaustion is a core dimension of job burnout, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that individual perceptions of supervisor conflict management style (collaborative, dominating and avoidant) are antecedents of role stressors (role conflict, role ambiguity and role overload) in public accounting exhaustion.Design/methodology/approachSurvey results from a sample of 208 public accountants from six firms in upstate New York are used to test the conceptual model using regression and mediation techniques.FindingsThe findings indicate that perceptions of collaborative and dominating conflict management styles are important antecedents to the role stressors that precede exhaustion in public accounting. The findings also indicate that collaborative and dominating management styles have an indirect effect on exhaustion through both role conflict and role overload.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample was taken from six accounting firms in one geographic area of the USA and may not be representative of all public accountants. As a result, generalizability may be limited. Theoretical implications include expansion of the existing public accounting exhaustion model to incorporate individual perceptions of conflict management styles as antecedents to role stressors, and consequently to demonstrate the indirect effects of these conflict management styles on exhaustion.Practical implicationsThis study’s findings provide practitioners with insight regarding conflict management styles, specifically which ones have a positive versus negative effect on role stressors. This can be considered in hiring, training and promotion decisions in firms’ efforts to reduce exhaustion.Originality/valueThis augmentation of the existing public accounting exhaustion model is unique, as prior research has not examined individual perceptions of conflict management style. This not only enriches the model but also is actionable by public accounting firms seeking to mitigate exhaustion.

Buffering relationship conflict consequences in teams working in real organizations

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Benitez ◽  
Francisco J. Medina ◽  
Lourdes Munduate
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Relationship Conflict ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Management Styles ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Conflict Management Styles ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Members

Purpose Relationship conflict has important negative organizational and personal consequences. However, papers analyzing how to buffer the negative effects of relationship conflict at work-unit level are lacking. This study aims to extend the literature by examining which specific conflict management styles used by work teams (avoiding, integrating and compromising) reduce or increase the link between relationship conflict and collective emotional exhaustion. Design/methodology/approach Regression analysis was conducted using 91 teams (398 employees) from 42 hotels and 42 restaurants. Findings Results revealed that, as it was expected, relationship conflict was positively related to emotional exhaustion at a team level; this relationship depended on how team members handle relationship conflicts. That is, avoiding and integrating conflict management styles buffered the link between relationship conflict and collective emotional exhaustion, whereas compromising increased this positive link. Research limitations/implications Organizations would include conflict management skills as a requirement for preventing negative consequences of conflict in teams, such as anxiety/depression and bullying. Originality/value By considering the unique perspective of team member’s shared perceptions of conflict management styles, important implications for the span of influence of collective perception of conflict on well-being have been indicated.

Cross-functional bridge in dyadic relationship

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 121-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Promise Opute
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Relationship Conflict ◽  
Dyadic Relationships ◽  
Working Relationship ◽  
Organisational Performance ◽  
Dyadic Relationship ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the use of Cross-Functional Bridge (CFB) in dyadic relationships towards enhancing organisational performance. Prior research has flagged conflict in interfunctional relationships. Research on managing such conflict context is, however, limited. Design/methodology/approach – Analysing 20 in-depth interviews conducted in UK financial services organisations, this study explains how the CFB is used to manage interfunctional relationship conflict and enhance performance. Findings – This study underlines three core insights about intragroup working relationship: cultural and disciplinary differences and boundary fencing are core features of, and conflict drivers in, the accounting – marketing interface; CFB is a tool for analysing and managing these conflict drivers; and organisations that use this tool achieve improved organisational performance, an outcome that is enhanced and sustained through the team psychological enhancement factor of the conflict management strategy. Also, this study underlines the need to ensure a fit between conflict management strategy and conflict types. Research limitations/implications – This research has several limitations. It explores only accounting – marketing working relationship in UK financial services organisations. Also, it explores only relationship conflict and cultural and disciplinary diversity and boundary fencing factors. Finally, this study suggests a mediating influence of psychological well-being on the CFB – performance link, a conclusion that is based on a methodologically inadequate tool: causes and effects associations are better assessed quantitatively (Johnson and Onwuegbuzie, 2004). Practical implications – The paper highlights insights for analysing and resolving conflicts towards harmonious dyadic relationships. Importantly, managers who use the flagged CFB tool would achieve psychological enhancement in team, and extendedly enhanced organisational performance. Managers are reminded of the need to adequately address the emotional substances in relationship conflicts, as failure to do this will lead to conflict escalation, transformation and negative performance. Originality/value – The paper offers theory testing and theory building knowledge. The CFB insight is a major highlight, one that lays a brick for future development, especially concerning its modus operandi, motivators and how to maximize its performance value.

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