TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of conflict strategies and communication competence in task-oriented dyads
AU - Gross, Michael A.
AU - Guerrero, Laura
AU - Alberts, Janet
PY - 2004/8
Y1 - 2004/8
N2 - Individuals in temporary task-oriented dyads or groups must manage conflict competently if they hope to be successful in reaching their goals. Thus far, however, research on the associations between conflict styles and communication competence has focused on acquainted dyads, such as relational partners and coworkers, rather than unacquainted dyads assigned to work on tasks. The present study tests the applicability of the competence model of interpersonal conflict to temporary task-oriented dyads. Dyads (N= 100) who had little or no relational history completed a simulated decision-making task that involved choosing two out of four employees to lay off in response to a company's need to downsize. Results indicate people generally perceived the solution-oriented strategy as appropriate and effective. Although people perceived their partners' use of the controlling strategy to be inappropriate, people rated themselves as more effective when they used the controlling strategy. People evaluated nonconfrontational strategies as particularly incompetent.
AB - Individuals in temporary task-oriented dyads or groups must manage conflict competently if they hope to be successful in reaching their goals. Thus far, however, research on the associations between conflict styles and communication competence has focused on acquainted dyads, such as relational partners and coworkers, rather than unacquainted dyads assigned to work on tasks. The present study tests the applicability of the competence model of interpersonal conflict to temporary task-oriented dyads. Dyads (N= 100) who had little or no relational history completed a simulated decision-making task that involved choosing two out of four employees to lay off in response to a company's need to downsize. Results indicate people generally perceived the solution-oriented strategy as appropriate and effective. Although people perceived their partners' use of the controlling strategy to be inappropriate, people rated themselves as more effective when they used the controlling strategy. People evaluated nonconfrontational strategies as particularly incompetent.
KW - Communication competence
KW - Conflict
KW - Conflict strategies
KW - Task-oriented dyads
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U2 - 10.1080/0090988042000240176
DO - 10.1080/0090988042000240176
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:4344572990
SN - 0090-9882
VL - 32
SP - 249
EP - 270
JO - Journal of Applied Communication Research
JF - Journal of Applied Communication Research
IS - 3
ER -