A Multimethod Examination of the Benefits and Detriments of Intragroup Conflict
研究了105个工作群体和管理团队，发现冲突是否有益取决于冲突类型、任务常规性、任务相互依赖性和群体规范。关系冲突和任务冲突降低满意度，但在非常规任务中任务分歧可能有益。
I would like to thank Jennifer A. Chatman, Margaret Neale, Elizabeth Weldon, Dawn lacobucci, and Oswald Werner for comments on earlier drafts. I would also like to thank Linda Pike for her tremendous help, as well as Robert I. Sutton and three anonymous reviewers. This study examines the structure of 105 work groups and management teams to address the question of whether conflict can be beneficial. Multiple methods were used to examine the effects of conflict on both individualand group-level variables to provide a more refined model of intragroup conflict. Results show that whether conflict was beneficial depended on the type of conflict and the structure of the group in terms of task type, task interdependence, and group norms. Relationship and task conflicts were negatively associated with individuals' satisfaction, liking of other group members, and intent to remain in the group. In groups performing very routine tasks, disagreements about the task were detrimental to group functioning. In contrast, in groups performing nonroutine tasks, disagreements about the tasks did not have a detrimental effect, and in some cases, such disagreements were actually beneficial. Contrary to expectations, norms encouraging open discussion of conflict were not always advantageous. The results suggest that while such norms were associated with an increase in the number and intensity of relationship conflicts, they did not increase members' ability to deal with the conflicts constructively. The model developed here contributes to an integrated perspective on organizational conflict.'