The Impact of Task Conflict and Relationship Conflict on Decision Quality

Abstract

This study has tested a theoretical model of the effect of task conflict on decision quality and the mediating role of relationship conflict in this effect. The participants were 205 academic, and administrative staff in a public university. Task and relationship conflict were measured through the scales developed by Jehn et al. (2008). Decision quality was measured through a scale by Visinescu and Sidorova (2017). The data were analyzed in PROCESS Macro. The results showed that task conflict affects relationship conflict positively and relationship conflict affects decision quality negatively. Besides, relationship conflict has a full mediation effect on the effect of task conflict on decision quality. However, contrary to the hypothesis that task conflict may have a positive effect on decision quality, the results have shown that task conflict has a negative effect on decision quality.