Linking Task Conflict to Turnover Intention

Abstract

Conflict is inevitable in groups and organizations because of complex and interdependent organizational life. Drawing on conservation of resources (COR) theory (Hobfoll, 1989), this study investigates why and how task conflict can relate to turnover intention. This study aims to find the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion on the relationships between task conflict and turnover intention. Moreover, we propose that professional identity buffers the emotional exhaustion that can reduce turnover intention in the workplace. Survey data were collected from 281 employees in a mid-sized professional service company located in South Korea. The findings of this study were that task conflict is positively related to emotional exhaustion and employees’ turnover intention. For employees with high professional identity, the relationship between task conflicts and emotional exhaustion and the indirect effect of task conflict on turnover intention via emotional exhaustion were weaker, compared to employees with low professional identity. The results of this study provide theoretical implications on conflict research and suggest practical directions for a systematic task conflict management program to reduce employees’ emotional exhaustion and employees’ turnover intention. Keywords: task conflict, emotional exhaustion, turnover intention