This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by O'Connor, K. M. Articles by Mcgrath, J. E. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Experience and Effects of Conflict in Continuing Work Groups

Deborah H Gruenfeld

Joseph E. Mcgrath

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The study described in this article deals with antecedents and consequences of experienced conflict in continuing work groups. Three variables affect the level of conflict that group members experience. (a) The type of task a group is working on affects the level of experienced conflict, with mixed-motive tasks yielding the most conflict and collaborative tasks yielding the least conflict. (b) A major change in the group's communication medium leads to increased conflict. (c) In contrast, a major change in group membership (one member leaves, and another member joins the group) results in decreased conflict. Overall, conflict reduces task performance effectiveness and is accompanied by less positive affect toward the group. But groups with consistently high levels of conflict perform better than low-conflict groups on mixed-motive tasks in which high levels of conflict are inherent.

Small Group Research, Vol. 24, No. 3, 362-382 (1993)
DOI: 10.1177/1046496493243005


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. C. Romano Jr., P. B. Lowry, and T. L. Roberts Technology-Supported Small Group Interaction: Extending a Tradition of Leading Research for Virtual Teams and Global Organizations Small Group Research, February 1, 2007; 38(1): 3 - 11. [PDF]

				A. Zornoza, P. Ripoll, and J. M. Peiro Conflict Management in Groups that Work in Two Different Communication Contexts: Face-To-Face and Computer-Mediated Communication Small Group Research, October 1, 2002; 33(5): 481 - 508. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. B. Henry Perceptions of Cooperation in a Longitudinal Social Dilemma Small Group Research, October 1, 2000; 31(5): 507 - 527. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. E. McGrath, H. Arrow, and J. L. Berdahl The Study of Groups: Past, Present, and Future Personality and Social Psychology Review, February 1, 2000; 4(1): 95 - 105. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. M. Farmer and J. Roth Conflict-Handling Behavior in Work Groups: Effects of Group Structure, Decision Processes, and Time Small Group Research, December 1, 1998; 29(6): 669 - 713. [Abstract]

				H. Arrow and J. E. Mcgrath Membership Matters: How Member Change and Continuity Affect Small Group Structure, Process, and Performance Small Group Research, August 1, 1993; 24(3): 334 - 361. [Abstract]