Ethics and conflict

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The Role of Ethics on Conflict Handling Styles A Scenario Based Study Ozan Nadir Alakavuklar & Ulaş Çakar By (November 2012)

Transcript of Ethics and conflict

Page 1: Ethics and conflict

The Role of Ethics on Conflict Handling Styles

A Scenario Based Study

Ozan Nadir Alakavuklar & Ulaş Çakar

By

(November 2012)

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Roadmap

Research Objectives

Literature Review

Theoretical Framework

Barki and Hartwick’s Conflict Typology

Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles

Ethical Approaches

Methodology

The Relationship between Ethical Approaches & Conflict Handling Styles

Deontology and Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles

Egoism /Relativism and Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles

Conclusion

Limitations and Recommendations for Future Research.

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Research Objectives

Ethical approaches are taken into consideration in the context of inter- personal conflict handling

Employed a scenario based approach which is not widespread in the conflict management literature.

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Interpersonal conflict is a natural consequence of human interaction…

One of the basic processes that must be managed within organizations (Thomas, 1992).

Conflict Handling Styles Emotions (Bell & Song, 2005; Desivilya & Yagil, 2005; Shih & Susanto, 2010)

Cultural Traits (Kozan & Ergin, 1999;Ting-Toomey et al., 1991)

Personality (Antonioni, 1998; Barbuto, Phipps,& Xu, 2010)

Religions (Croucher, 2011)

Literature Review

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Theoretical Framework

Conflict occurs when two social entities…

Incongruent activity with their needs Behavioral preferences Mutually desirable resource Exclusive attitudes, values… Joint actions etc…

Emergence of Conflict Ethical Approach(Carlson & Kacmar, 1997).

Differences in Ethical values

Ethical Approach

Diff Ethical values

Conflict

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Barki and Hartwick’s Conflict Typology

A Typology for Conceptualizing and Assessing Interpersonal Conflict in Organizations

Interpersonal Conflict’s Focus

Task Content or Task Process Interpersonal Relationship

Cognition / Disagreement

Disagreement with the other about what should be done in a task or how a task should be done .

Disagreement with the other’s personal values, views, preferences, etc.

Behavior / Interference

Preventing the other from doing what they think should be done in a task or how a task should be done.

Preventing the other from doing things unrelated to task .

Affect / Negative Emotion

Anger and frustration directed to the other about what should be done in a task or how a task should be done .

Anger and frustration directed to the other as a person.

Inte

rpers

on

al C

on

flic

t’s P

rop

ertie

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Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles

The Dual Concern Model of the Styles of Handling Interpersonal Conflict

Concern For Self

HIGH LOW

Integrating

Obliging

Dominating

Avoiding Con

cern

F

or

O

thers

LO

W H

IGH

Compromising

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Ethical Approaches

Deontological Approach Ethical Egoism Approach Relativism Approach

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Sample Data gathered through a web survey Study population included every academic personnel

working in public universities in Turkey .

Data Collection Methods Scenario: For concrete decision-making situation resembling

real-life situations. Scenario is about two assistant professors (Ayla and Murat) A question is asked to determine whether the given

situation is perceived as a conflict involving situation.

Scales Ethical orientation scale Rahim’s Organizational Conflict Inventory-II

Methodology

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Methodology

Analysis Partial Correlation analysis Stepwise Regression analysis

Findings Sample have higher orientation to deontological approach Integrating handling style preferred Obliging style least preferred Social desirability (Control variable)

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The Relationship between Ethical Approaches & Conflict Handling Styles

Approaches Relationship Conflict Handling Style

Deontological Negative Avoiding, obliging & compromising

Egoism Positive Avoiding, obliging &

compromising

Relativism Positive Avoiding, obliging & compromising

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Supported and Not Supported Hypotheses of the

Study Hypotheses

Statements Result

H1 There is a negative relationship between deontology oriented individual and tendency to choose obliging style

Supported

H2 There is a negative relationship between deontology oriented individual and tendency to choose compromising

style

Supported

H3 There is negative relationship between deontology oriented individual and tendency to choose avoiding style in a conflict situation

Not Supported

H4 There is a positive relationship between deontology oriented individual and tendency to choose dominating

style

Not Supported

H5 There is a positive relationship between egoism oriented individual and tendency to choose obliging handling style.

Supported

H6 There is a positive relationship between egoism oriented

individual and tendency to prefer integrating style. Not Supported

H7 There is a positive relationship between relativism oriented individual and tendency to choose obliging style.

Supported

H8 There is a positive relationship between relativism oriented

individual and tendency to prefer integrating style. Not Supported

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The relationship between ethical approaches and handling styles is intensified in the area of obliging style.

The study led to a distinction between “concern for self” and “concern for others” on the basis of the ethical approaches (either with a positive or a negative relationship)

Discussion

Integrating Obliging

Dominating Avoiding

Compromising

C

ON

CER

N F

OR

OTH

ER

S L

OW

H

IGH

CONCERN FOR SELFHIGH LOW

EgoismRelativism

Deontological(Negative)

Egoism

The Intensity of the Relationship on Dual Concerns Model

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Deontology and Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles

Deontology oriented individual does not oblige or compromise in a conflict situation.

The perception of the given conflict situation does not provide tools for Deontological individuals to integrate .

In the given scenario, the results indicate that domination tool is not perceived.

There is negative relationship between avoiding and deontology approach.

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Egoism and Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles

An individual with Egoism will demonstrate obliging style.

An individual oriented to egoism approach may prefer avoiding style.

Egoism oriented individual does not prefer compromising style since the actors do not have any alternative to negotiate.

In the scenario, it is noticed that integration style is not preferred by Egoism approach.

The scenario are not perceived enough for preferring dominating style

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Relativism and Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles

The scenario given, a relativism oriented individual has tendency to choose obliging style.

The situation given in the scenario does not provide a possible way of collaboration with Murat.

In the given scenario depending upon the situation it is not reasonable for relativism oriented person to employ

(a) Dominating style because of being colleagues and having insufficient tools,

(b) Avoiding style since there is no need to ignore the situation(c) Compromising style since there is nothing that Ayla can

offer in the negotiation.

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Conclusion

This study indicated that ethical approaches have a role in determining the preference of interpersonal conflict handling style with the given scenario.

The findings are also valuable considering the diversified nature of the workplaces.

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Limitations and Recommendations for Future Research

Limitations Just three of the ethical approaches Limited ethical conflict situation described in the scenario.

Recommendations Different positions among the conflict experiencing. Considering the cultural dimensions.

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Questions Please