POSITIVE EFFECTS OF CONFLICT: A FIELD ASSESSMENT
Abstract
Research relying on laboratory protocol and case studies has demonstrated positive effects from cognitive conflict and controversy. Reported benefits have included better judgments, improved strategic decisions and a better understanding of others' positions. This study develops and assesses the psychometric properties of an instrument designed to examine decision conflict in field settings. This instrument was administered on site to 63 managers. Factors identified in the instrument were disagreement, openness, and control. Interestingly, the openness dimension was positively associated with job commitment. The control factor was inversely associated with job satisfaction.
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Task-related disagreement enhances performance by encouraging members to question assumptions and offer alternative viewpoints.
“While conflict is often seen as disruptive, task-related disagreement enhances performance by encouraging members to question assumptions and offer alternative viewpoints (Baron, 1991, 1997; Cosier and Dalton, 1990).”
From The Groupfeel syndrome: a theory of a counterproductive group emotion (2026) · cites this paper as Cosier and Dalton, 1990
The motivation or pressure to maintain a consistently positive group emotion discourages dissent and constructive conflict, thereby hindering the robust information exchange and critical evaluation vital for high-quality decisions.
“This pressure discourages dissent and constructive conflict, thereby hindering the robust information exchange and critical evaluation vital for high-quality decisions (Baron, 1991, 1997; Cosier and Dalton, 1990).”
From The Groupfeel syndrome: a theory of a counterproductive group emotion (2026) · cites this paper as Cosier and Dalton, 1990
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- Authors
- Cosier, R. A., & Dalton, D. R.
- Affiliations
- Indiana University (US)
- Venue
- International Journal of Conflict Management
- Publisher
- Emerald
- Published
- 1990-01-01
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 81-92
- ISSN
- 1044-4068 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2051953394
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 8.07
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Conflict Management (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Conflict Management and Negotiation
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Team Dynamics and Performance
- Keywords
- decisional conflict, cognitive conflict, managers, instrument development, psychometric properties, disagreement, openness, control, work commitment, job satisfaction, field evaluation
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