The Role of Leadership in the Management of Conflict and Knowledge Sharing in the Research Groups of a Spanish Public University

Abstract

This paper analyses how academics perceive their group leaders’ behaviour in managing the scientific activities of their research group and, particularly, how the leader’s style (task- or relationship-oriented) enhances knowledge sharing, both directly and indirectly through its influence on conflict. An empirical research study was carried out by surveying 211 academics belonging to research groups in a Spanish university, using simultaneous equation models. The results provide evidence that both leadership styles have a positive and significant direct influence on knowledge sharing, as well as an indirect effect by reducing the negative influence of task and relationship conflict.