The Effect of Leaders' Relative Power on Conflict Management Strategies and the Moderating Role of Contextual Creativity

Dohrn, Lilly (2023) The Effect of Leaders' Relative Power on Conflict Management Strategies and the Moderating Role of Contextual Creativity. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Conflicts between leaders and their employees occur frequently at work, and it is typically the leader’s responsibility to solve them. Leaders’ relative power in such conflicts seems to play an important role in whether they are considerate of their employees’ needs or whether they are assertive in getting their own way. Yet, the large proportion of inconsistent findings suggest that the outcome is dependent on contextual factors. Research has shown that creativity can lead to more constructive conflict outcomes. In the current field study, we investigate whether leaders with high relative power use more destructive conflict management strategies towards their employees, and whether contextual creativity changes this relationship, such that leaders with high relative power use more constructive strategies when allowed to think creatively. A sample of British leaders was recruited for the study (N=245). Participants took part in a two-wave time-lagged study. We found partial support for the hypothesis that a leader's relative power is positively related to destructive conflict management strategies. No significant interaction effects were found. We conclude that relative power plays an important role in conflict management. However, the role of contextual factors in this relationship needs further investigation. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Keywords: Relative power, conflict management, constructive versus destructive, contextual creativity

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Supervisor name:	Fousiani, K. and Koc, Y.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	None [Bachelor Psychology]
Date Deposited:	03 Feb 2023 12:16
Last Modified:	03 Feb 2023 12:16
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1631

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