Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Previous article
Next article
Original Article

Task and Relationship Conflict at Work

Construct Validation of a German Version of Jehn’s Intragroup Conflict Scale

Published Online:June 22, 2011https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000064

Abstract

The distinction between task and relationship conflict is well established. Based on Jehn’s (1995) intragroup conflict scale, we developed an economic six-item questionnaire for assessing relationship and task conflict in work groups. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on data from a convenience sample (N = 247), and confirmed the original two-factor solution. The stability of the obtained two-factor solution was supported by confirmatory factor analysis in a longitudinal design with a second sample (N = 431) from the industrial sector. In line with previous research, the two types of conflict were intercorrelated. Moreover, the two subscales showed differential longitudinal effects on team outcomes. Task conflict was beneficial for performance in nonroutine tasks (but not in routine tasks). Relationship conflict had a negative impact on team viability and coworker trust.

References

  • Balkundi, P. , Harrison, D. A. (2006). Ties, leaders, and time in teams: Strong inference about network structure’s effects on team viability and performance. Academy of Management Journal, 49, 49–68. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Brown, M. W. , Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of accessing equation model fit. In K. A. Bollen, J. S. Long, (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136–162). Newbury Park, CA: Sage. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Chen, M. (2006). Understanding the benefits and detriments of conflict on team creativity process. Creativity and innovation management, 15, 105–116. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Costa, A. C. (2003). Work team trust and effectiveness. Personnel Review, 32, 605–622. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Costa, A. C. , Roe, R. A. , Taillieu, T. (2001). Trust within teams: The relation with performance effectiveness. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 10, 225–244. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • De Dreu, C. K. W. , Weingart, L. R. (2003). Task versus relationship conflict, team performance, and team member satisfaction: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 741–749. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Enders, C. K. (2001). The impact of nonnormality on full information maximum-likelihood estimation for structural equation models with missing data. Psychological Methods, 6, 352–370. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Enders, C. K. , Bandalos, D. L. (2001). The relative performance of full information maximum likelihood estimation for missing data in structural equation models. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 8, 430–457. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Graham, J. W. , Cumsille, P. E. , Elek-Fisk, E. (2003). Methods for handling missing data. In J. A. Schinka, W. F. Velicer, (Eds.), Handbook of psychology (Vol. 2): Research methods in psychology (pp. 87–114). New York: Wiley. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hackman, J. R. , Wageman, R. (2005). A theory of team coaching. Academy of Management Review, 30, 269–287. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Hu, L. , & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jehn, K. A. (1995). A multimethod examination of the benefits and detriments of intragroup conflict. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40, 256–282. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jehn, K. A. , Bendersky, C. (2003). Intragroup conflict in organizations: A contingency perspective on the conflict-outcome relationship. Research in Organizational Behavior, 25, 187–242. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jehn, K. A. , Chatman, J. A. (2000). The influence of proportional and perceptual conflict composition on team performance. International Journal of Conflict Management, 11, 56–73. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jehn, K. A. , Greer, L. L. , Levine, S. , Szulanski, G. (2008). The effects of conflict types, dimensions, and emergent states on group outcomes. Group Decision and Negotiation, 17, 465–495. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jehn, K. A. , Mannix, E. A. (2001). The dynamic nature of conflict: A longitudinal study of intragroup conflict and group performance. Academy of Management Journal, 44, 238–251. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kauffeld, S. (2006). Kompetenzen messen, bewerten, entwickeln [Measuring, evaluating, and developing competencies]. Stuttgart: Schäffer-Poeschel. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Kauffeld, S. , Meyers, R. A. (2009). Complaint and solution-oriented circles: Interaction patterns in work group discussions. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 18, 267–294. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kirkman, B. L. , Rosen, B. (1999). Beyond self-management: Antecedents and consequences of team empowerment. Academy of Management Journal, 42, 58–74. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Langfred, C. W. (2007). The downside of self-management: A longitudinal study of the effects of conflict on trust, autonomy, and task interdependence in self-managing teams. Academy of Management Journal, 50, 885–900. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Lehmann-Willenbrock, N. , Kauffeld, S. (2010a). The downside of communication: Complaining circles in group discussions. In S. Schuman, (Ed.), The handbook for working with difficult groups: How they are difficult, why they are difficult, what you can do (pp. 33–54). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass/Wiley. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Lehmann-Willenbrock, N. , Kauffeld, S. (2010b). Development and construct validation of the German Workplace Trust Survey (G-WTS). European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 26, 3–10. First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Little, T. D. , Cunningham, W. A. , Shahar, G. , & Widaman, K. F. (2002). To parcel or not to parcel: Exploring the question, weighing the merits. Structural Equation Modeling, 9, 151–173. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Mannix, E. , & Jehn, K. A. (2004). Let’s storm and norm, but not right now: Integrating models of group development and performance. In E. Mannix, M. Neale, S. Blount, (Eds.), Research on managing groups and teams: Temporal issues (Vol. 6, pp. 11–38). New York: Elsevier. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Marks, M. A. , Mathieu, J. E. , Zaccaro, S. J. (2001). A temporally based framework and taxonomy of team processes. Academy of Management Review, 26, 356–376. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Mathieu, J. E. , Gilson, L. L. , Ruddy, T. M. (2006). Empowerment and team effectiveness: An empirical test of an integrated model. Journal of Applied Psychology, 91, 97–108. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Mathieu, J. E. , Maynard, T. , Rapp, T. , Gilson, L. (2008). Team effectiveness 1997–2007: A review of recent advancements and a glimpse into the future. Journal of Management, 34, 410–476. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • McShane, S. L. , von Glinow, M. A. (2000). Organizational behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Muthén, L. K. , Muthén, B. O. (1998–2007). Mplus user’s guide (5th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Panteli, N. , Sockalingam, S. (2005). Trust and conflict within virtual interorganizational alliances: A framework for facilitating knowledge sharing. Decision Support Systems, 39, 599–617. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Passos, A. M. , Caetano, A. (2005). Exploring the effects of intragroup conflict and past performance feedback on team effectiveness. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 20, 231–244. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Pearson, A. W. , Ensley, M. D. , Amason, A. C. (2002). An assessment and refinement of Jehn’s intragroup conflict scale. The International Journal of Conflict Management, 13, 110–126. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Pelled, L. H. (1996). Demographic diversity, conflict, and work group outcomes: An intervening process theory. Organization Science, 7, 615–631. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Podsakoff, P. M. , MacKenzie, S. B. , Lee, J.-Y. , Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 879–903. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Putnam, L. L. (1994). Productive conflict: Negotiation as implicit coordination. International Journal of Conflict Management, 5, 285–299. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Roe, R. A. (2008). Time in applied psychology: The study of “what happens” rather than “what is.” European Psychologist, 13, 37–52. First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Schweizer, K. (2010). Some guidelines concerning the modeling of traits and abilities in test construction. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 26, 1–2. First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Simons, T. L. , Peterson, R. S. (2000). Task conflict and relationship conflict in top management teams: The pivotal role of intragroup trust. Journal of Applied Psychology, 85, 102–111. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Stasser, G. , Birchmeier, Z. (2003). Group creativity and collective choice. In P. B. Paulus, B. A. Nijstad, (Eds.), Group creativity (pp. 85–109). New York: Oxford University Press. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sundstrom, E. , De Meuse, K. P. , Futrell, D. (1990). Work teams: Applications and effectiveness. American Psychologist, 45, 120–133. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Tindale, R. S. , Dykema-Engblade, A. , Wittkowski, E. (2005). Conflict within and between groups. In S. A. Wheelan, (Ed.), The handbook of group research and practice (pp. 313–328). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Tjosvold, D. (2008). The conflict-positive organization: It depends upon us. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 29, 19–28. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar