Conflict management styles in traditional organisations

Abstract

The Thomas Killman Conflict Mode Instrument is widely used to assess conflict management styles. The instrument uses two parameters, i.e., assertiveness and cooperation, resulting in five distinct styles: avoiding, competing, collaborating, accommodating and compromising. Twenty-five middle and twenty-five junior managers in the banking industry (two particular companies) completed the questionnaire, answering in the context of their relationships with each other. Results indicate significant differences between the two groups. Middle management prefers the assertive styles (competing and collaborating) with scant attention to cooperation, while junior management primarily uses the avoiding style, which is both uncooperative and unassertive. The implications of these findings are discussed, leading to particular recommendations.