A Study on Conflict Resolution Strategies and their Effectiveness in Team Management

Abstract

Conflict within teams is an inevitable phenomenon in contemporary organizational settings that significantly impacts team performance and productivity. This study aims to examine conflict resolution strategies and their effectiveness in team management across organizational contexts. The research employed a descriptive research design utilizing a survey methodology with a stratified random sampling technique, drawing a sample of 250 respondents from various organizational sectors. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire based on the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument and Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory. The study hypothesized that collaborative conflict resolution strategies demonstrate higher effectiveness in enhancing team performance compared to competitive or avoidance strategies. Results indicated that collaborating style (59.8%) emerged as the most preferred conflict management approach, followed by compromising (24.4%), with significant positive correlations between collaborative approaches and team effectiveness (r=0.72, p<0.01). The discussion reveals that emotional intelligence, communication patterns, and organizational culture significantly moderate the relationship between conflict resolution strategies and team outcomes. The study concludes that organizations should invest in conflict management training programs emphasizing integrative approaches to enhance team cohesion and performance.