Multilevel effects of conflict management preferences on satisfaction with group processes

Abstract

PurposeThis research aims to examine the relationship between conflict management in the workplace and member satisfaction in work groups at both individual and group levels.Design/methodology/approachThe objectives were achieved by surveying 135 Korean teachers in 28 kindergartens, treating them as small work groups. A multilevel modeling technique was used to examine the impact of conflict management preferences on individual satisfaction with group processes.FindingsFor the cooperation style of conflict management, individual‐level preference and group‐level similarity in preference were related positively to individual satisfaction with group processes. Individual‐level preference and group‐level similarity in preference for the avoidance style, however, did not significantly influence individual satisfaction with group processes. It was also found that the positive relationship between individual preference for the cooperation style and satisfaction with group processes was stronger with less variation (i.e. greater similarity) in group‐level preference for the cooperation style and with greater variation (i.e. less similarity) in group‐level preference for the avoidance style. Research limitations/implications – No causality can be established between conflict management style preferences and satisfaction with group processes. Only two styles of conflict management were assessed with a small number of measurement items.Originality/valueThe study shows how useful a multilevel examination of conflict management style preferences and satisfaction with group processes can be for conflict research.