Using Conflict Management in Improving Owners and Contractors Relationship Quality in the Construction Industry: The Mediation Role of Trust

Abstract

This study investigates conflict management climate as perceived by the owners and contractors significantly affect trust and relationship quality in the Nigerian construction industry. This empirical study also assesses trust as a mediator between conflict management climate and relationship quality. Data gathered from 426 owners and contractors employees in the Nigerian construction industry were used to verify the abovementioned relationships via structural equation modeling. The results show that conflict management climate significantly predicted trust and relationship quality. Trust significantly predicted relationship quality and partially mediates the relationship between conflict management climate and relationship quality. This study contributes to theory within this research by showing trust and relationship quality is significantly affected when owners and contractors are aware of the conflict management climate. The study offers important practical implications for managing conflict management between owners and contractors in the construction industry. Insights into future research directions are also documented.