Conflict management styles and the gender

Abstract

Purpose – Perhaps never before the issue of conflict management has been more important, given the globalization, high competitive business environment, and the diversification of the workforce. This study was designed to investigate assumptions that might exist between gender and conflict management. Specifically, the intent of the study is to compare the use of conflict management styles of males and females in 7 Greek private organizations in order to determine if gender-based and stereotypes differences exists. Design/methodology/approach – The standardized self-report questionnaire instrument by Johnson and Johnson (2006) was utilized to assess the conflict management styles of 103 participants (50 males, 53 females) randomly selected from 7 private organizations located in Attica, Greece. Both Independent t-Test and K-Means Cluster Analysis-Chi-Square were utilized to investigate the relationship between gender and the use of conflict management styles. Findings – Results of this study indicate that, women, compared with their male counterparts are more likely to utilize the compromising conflict management style. As compromising is generally considered as constructive and collaborating, the study suggests that women may possess more constructive and collaborative attitude in conflict than their male counterparts. Originality/value – The results of this paper provide support, though limited, to the theory that an individual’s gender may be related to the development of conflict management styles, however do not support the traditional view that men and women tend to complement gender role expectations, whereas men are goal-oriented and women relationship-oriented.