Comparison of Conflict Management Style Between Malaysian and Thai Employees: A Case Study in Top Glove Corporation

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the fundamental beliefs regarding cross-cultural differences in conflict styles.
 Methodology: The sample consisted of 46 employees from 2 different countries between Malaysia and Thailand. T test analysis was used to investigate the effect of conflict styles on both Malaysia and Thai employees. 
 Results: Findings revealed that the avoiding and compromising styles are generally the most preferred by both Malaysian and Thai employees; accommodating and collaborating are the next preference, followed by competing. Competing is preferred by Malaysian workers rather than Thai workers. While, Thai employees use more collaborating style rather than Malaysian Employee. We also found that Thai employees rely more on comprising style than Malaysian employees do.
 Finally, the meaning of three of the five styles is different from Malaysian and Thai employees: only avoiding and accommodating conflict styles are interpreted similarly by both groups. Therefore, we conclude that both Malaysian and Thai experience higher levels of task conflict as they use more avoiding style in their workplace. Areas for future research are considered to get a further finding of this research.