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Task conflict, information processing, and decision-making: The damaging effect of relationship conflict

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  • de Wit, Frank R.C.
  • Jehn, Karen A.
  • Scheepers, Daan

Abstract

A popular theoretical assumption holds that task-related disagreements stimulate critical thinking, and thus may improve group decision making. Two recent meta-analyses showed, however, that task conflict can have a positive effect, a negative effect, or no effect at all on decision-making quality (De Dreu & Weingart, 2003; De Wit, Greer, & Jehn, 2012). In two studies, we built upon the suggestion of both meta-analyses that the presence of relationship conflict determines whether a task conflict is positively or negatively related to decision making. We hypothesized and found that the level of perceived relationship conflict during task conflict (Study 1), and the actual presence (vs. absence) of relationship conflict during task conflict (Study 2), increased group members’ rigidity in holding onto suboptimal initial preferences during decision making and thus led to poor decisions. In both studies the effect of relationship conflict on decision making was mediated by biased use of information.

Suggested Citation

  • de Wit, Frank R.C. & Jehn, Karen A. & Scheepers, Daan, 2013. "Task conflict, information processing, and decision-making: The damaging effect of relationship conflict," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 122(2), pages 177-189.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobhdp:v:122:y:2013:i:2:p:177-189
    DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2013.07.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karen A. Jehn & Lindred Greer & Sheen Levine & Gabriel Szulanski, 2008. "The Effects of Conflict Types, Dimensions, and Emergent States on Group Outcomes," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 465-495, November.
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    2. Juan Pablo Diánez-González & Carmen Camelo-Ordaz, 2016. "How management team composition affects academic spin-offs’ entrepreneurial orientation: the mediating role of conflict," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 530-557, June.
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    6. Carmen Camelo-Ordaz & Joaquín García-Cruz & Elena Sousa-Ginel, 2015. "The Influence of Top Management Team Conflict on Firm Innovativeness," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 957-980, November.
    7. Kerwin, Shannon & Walker, Matthew B. & Bopp, Trevor, 2017. "When faultlines are created: Exploring the conflict triggering process in sport," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 252-260.
    8. Lukasz Derdowski & Torvald Øgaard & Einar Marnburg & Gro Ellen Mathisen, 2018. "Creative and innovative behaviours of corporate directors: an elusive role of task-related conflicts," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 22(4), pages 1045-1069, December.
    9. Chenli Meng & Yuhui Ge & Eugene Abrokwah, 2020. "Developing Sustainable Decision Performance for Science and Technology Industries in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, March.
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    11. Alejandro Salado & Hanumanthrao Kannan, 2019. "Elemental patterns of verification strategies," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(5), pages 370-388, September.
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