TY - JOUR

T1 - Interpersonal conflicts in executive training

T2 - Types, antecedents and consequences

AU - Schermuly, Carsten C.

AU - Schölmerich, Franziska

PY - 2018/5/1

Y1 - 2018/5/1

N2 - Executive training is an important part of leadership development, but little is known about interpersonal conflicts that can occur in leadership training. We conducted a qualitative (N = 85) and quantitative (N = 214) study to explore this new research field. With the help of these studies, we aim to identify typical interpersonal conflict types during executive training as well as their antecedents and consequences. The results of Study 1 show that the classic trichotomy of interpersonal conflicts should be extended for executive training. Besides task and process conflicts, two types of relationship conflicts occur in executive training: personal conflicts and status conflicts. Study 2 identified perceived subgroups as an antecedent and learning success as a consequence of interpersonal conflicts in executive training. While training-related task conflicts had a positive effect on learning success, relationship conflicts had a negative effect.

AB - Executive training is an important part of leadership development, but little is known about interpersonal conflicts that can occur in leadership training. We conducted a qualitative (N = 85) and quantitative (N = 214) study to explore this new research field. With the help of these studies, we aim to identify typical interpersonal conflict types during executive training as well as their antecedents and consequences. The results of Study 1 show that the classic trichotomy of interpersonal conflicts should be extended for executive training. Besides task and process conflicts, two types of relationship conflicts occur in executive training: personal conflicts and status conflicts. Study 2 identified perceived subgroups as an antecedent and learning success as a consequence of interpersonal conflicts in executive training. While training-related task conflicts had a positive effect on learning success, relationship conflicts had a negative effect.

KW - Conflict management

KW - executive training

KW - interpersonal conflicts

KW - learning success

KW - perceived subgroups

KW - Management studies

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046763229&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/2397002218760510

DO - 10.1177/2397002218760510

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85046763229

VL - 32

SP - 77

EP - 101

JO - German Journal of Human Resource Management

JF - German Journal of Human Resource Management

SN - 2397-0022

IS - 2

ER -