DISTINGUISHING THE EFFECTS OF FUNCTIONAL AND DYSFUNCTIONAL CONFLICT ON STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING: RESOLVING A PARADOX FOR TOP MANAGEMENT TEAMS.
Abstract
Top management teams make strategic decisions, and the products of their decision making influence organizational performance. However, a subtle paradox is embedded in this relationship. This study focuses on conflict as the crux of this paradox and provides evidence from two different samples of conflict's consistent yet contradictory effects on decision quality, consensus, and affective acceptance.
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By embracing stakeholder tension, firms become more receptive to new ideas, obtain a deeper understanding of opposing viewpoints, and question longheld assumptions, which results in better decisions that are understood and accepted by stakeholders.
“In line with insights from strategic decision making (Amason 1996), we suggest that by embracing stakeholder tension, firms become more receptive to new ideas, obtain a deeper understanding of opposing viewpoints, and question longheld assumptions, which results in better decisions that are understood and accepted by stakeholders.”
From Stakeholder marketing: theoretical foundations and required capabilities (2015) · cites this paper as Amason 1996
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- Authors
- Amason, A. C.
- Affiliations
- Mississippi State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Amason, A. C.
- Venue
- Academy of Management Journal
- Publisher
- Academy of Management
- Published
- 1996-02-01
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 123-148
- ISSN
- 0001-4273 (ISSN-L)
- 1948-0989
- OpenAlex
- W1967352038
- Cited by
- 2,584
- References
- 67
- Citations by year
- 2026: 56 · 2025: 69 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 72 · 2022: 114 · 2021: 106 · 2020: 115 · 2019: 115 · 2018: 119 · 2017: 127 · 2016: 124 · 2015: 127 · 2014: 126 · 2013: 129 · 2012: 129
- FWCI
- 45.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Academy of Management Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Team Dynamics and Performance
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Conflict Management and Negotiation
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Leadership, Behavior, and Decision-Making Studies
- Keywords
- top management teams, conflict, functional conflict, dysfunctional conflict, strategic decision-making, decision quality, consensus, paradox
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