Intragroup conflicts and efficiency of production group

Analysis results of relationships of three levels of the conflict (interpersonal, microgroup and group) on two types (the job and subject ) with indicators of subjectively perceived performance and social effectiveness of small groups and informal subgroups are provided. On selection of 42 work groups (N=334 employees) it is established that performance efficiency of group according to the experts has inverse relation from all levels and types of the conflict, and by estimates of members of group — from two types of the microgroup conflict. The same type of effectiveness of informal subgroups on one indicator has inverse relation from the group conflict, and on another — from the interpersonal and microgroup conflict. Social effectiveness of group is connected with the interpersonal and group conflict, and informal subgroups are connected with the interpersonal and microgroup conflict. Levels and types of the conflict cause efficiency of group and subgroup not only separately, but also in a combination with each other. Six regression models, four of which display relationships at the same time of several levels and types of the conflict with performance effectiveness of group, and two — with social effectiveness of subgroup are revealed. Mediated and direct relationships of levels and types of the conflict with efficiency of group and subgroup are established.

1. Gorbatenko A.S., Gorbatenko T.M. Metodika opredelenija struktury maloj gruppy s pomoshh’ju analiza mezhlichnostnyh vyborov [A method for identification of the structure of a small group using formalized analysis of interpersonal selections]. Voprosy psihologii [Voprosy Psychologii], 1984, no. 4, pp. 112—118.
2. Kaydalov D.P., Suimenko E.I. Psihologiya edinonachaliya i kollegialnosti [Psychology of one-man management and collective nature]. Moscow: Myisl, 1979. 254 p.
3. Mescheryakova I.A., Pogodina E.N. Opyit psihologicheskogo analiza konfliktov v studencheskom obschezhitii [The experience of psychological analysis of conflicts in a student dormitory]. Kulturno-istoricheskaya psihologiya [Cultural-historical psychology],. 2010, no. 3, pp. 29—38.
4. Polozova T.A. Mezhlichnostnyiy konflikt v gruppe (teoreticheskie printsipyi i opyit eksperimentalnogo issledovaniya). Avtoref. diss. kand. psihol. nauk [Interpersonal conflict in the group (theoretical principles and experience of experimental research). Ph. D. (Psychology) Thesis]. Moscow, 1980.
5. Sidorenkov A.V. et al. Razrabotka instrumentariya issledovaniya gruppovogo i mikrogruppovogo konflikta v proizvodstvennyih gruppah [Development of a questionnaire of the group and microgroup conflict in the working groups]. Rossiyskiy psihologicheskiy zhurnal [Russian Psychological Journal], Vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 89—106.
6. Sidorenkov A.V. Malaja gruppa i neformal’naja podgruppy: mikrogruppovaja teorija [Small group and informal subgroups: microgroove theory]. Rostov-na-Donu: Publ. JuFU, 2010.
7. Sidorenkov A.V., Lokteva E.A., Mkrtchyan A.A. Instrumentariy issledovaniya tipov mezhlichnostnyih protivorechiy i konfliktov v malyih gruppah [Instruments for types of interpersonal contradictions and conflicts in small groups study]. Psihologicheskiy zhurnal [Psikhologicheskii Zhurnal], Vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 103—117.
8. Sidorenkov A.V., Pavlenko R.V. Svidetelstvo ob ofitsialnoy registratsii programmyi dlya EVM № 2016661568 «Gruppovoy profil — Universal», GP-U(M-16) Federalnoy sluzhbyi po intellektualnoy sobstvennosti RF [Certificate of official registration of a computer program No. 2016661568 «Group profile — Universal», GP-U(M-16) Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the Russian Federation]. Moscow, 2016.
9. Sidorenkov A.V., Ulyanova N.Yu. Metodiki izucheniya effektivnosti malyih proizvodstvennyih grupp [The methods for investigation of the small production groups efficacy]. Rossiyskiy psihologicheskiy zhurnal [Russian Psychological Journal], 2011, no. 4, pp. 9—16.
10. Behfar K.J. et al. Conflict in small groups: The meaning and consequences of process conflict. Small Group Research, 2011, 42(2), pp. 127—176. doi: 10.1177/1046496410389194
11. Choi J.N. & Sy T. Group-level organizational citizenship behavior: Effects of demographic faultlines and conflict in small work groups. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2010, 31, pp. 1032—1054. doi: 10.1002/job.661
12. De Dreu C.K.W. & Weingart L.R. Task versus relationship conflict, team member satisfaction, and team effectiveness: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 2003, 88(4), pp. 741—749. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.88.4.741
13. Greer L.L., Jehn K.A. & Mannix E.A. Conflict transformation: A longitudinal investigation of the relationships between different types of intragroup conflict and the moderating role of conflict resolution. Small Group Research, 2008, 39(3), pp. 278—302. doi: 10.1177/1046496408317793
14. Jehn K.A. A multimethod examination of the benefits and detriments of intragroup conflict. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1995, 40, pp. 256—282. doi: 0001-8392/95/4002- 0256
15. Jehn K.A. A qualitative analysis of conflict types and dimensions in organizational groups. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1997, 42, pp. 530—557. doi: 0001-8392/97/4203- 0530
16. Jehn K.A. et al. The effects of conflict types, dimensions, and emergent states on group outcomes. Group Decision & Negotiation, 2008, 7, pp. 465—495. doi: 10.1007/s10726-008- 9107-0
17. Jehn K.A. & Mannix E.A. The dynamic nature of conflict: A longitudinal study of intragroup conflict and group performance. Academy of Management Journal, 2001, 44, pp. 238—251. doi:10.2307/3069453
18. Jehn K.A., Northcraft G.B. & Neale M.A. Why differences make a difference: A field study of diversity, conflict, and performance in workgroups. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1999, 44(4), pp. 741—763.
19. Kerwin S., Doherty A. & Harman A. “It’s not conflict, it’s differences of opinion”: An in-depth examination of conflict in nonprofit boards. Small Group Research, 2011, 42(5), pp. 562—594. doi: 10.1177/1046496411398395
20. Medina F.J. et al. Types of intragroup conflict and affective reactions. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 2005, 20(3/4), pp. 219—230. doi: 10.1108/02683940510589019
21. Pelled L.H., Eisenhardt K.M. & Xin K.R. Exploring the black box: An analysis of work group diversity, conflict, and performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 1999, 44, pp. 1—28. doi:0001-8392/99/4401-0001
22. Yong K., Sauer S.J. & Mannix E.A. Conflict and creativity in interdisciplinary teams. Small Group Research., 2014, 45(3), pp. 266—289. doi: 10.1177/1046496414530789