How Workload Influences Conflict with Team Members: The Perspective of Conservation of Resources Theory

Abstract

Workload overload has gradually become the norm in the workplace, and the platform transformation of organizational structure emphasizes the division of labor and cooperation but also accompanies the conflict within team members. Based on the conservation of resources theory, this paper proposes a model for how employee workload affects individual interactions with colleagues. We argue that employees’ workload will increase their conflict with their team members, the two dimensions of inter-team conflict -- task conflict and relationship conflict. Furthermore, we propose that team trust will moderate these relationships. This paper broadens the research perspective focusing on the formation mechanism of conflict with team members and provides an action guide for management practice.