CONFLICT MANAGEMENT The Psychology of conflict and conflict ...

88 OLEKALNS, PUTNAM, WEINGART, AND METCALF
Simultaneous Combinations. Van de Vliert’s conglomerated model
presented an alternative approach for characterizing how multiple
strategies emerged (Van de Vliert et al., 1995). He argued that the five
conflict styles did not occur in isolation. Instead, they functioned as
“conglomerated behaviors” that occurred in combination as individuals
worked toward maximizing effectiveness. Working within this
framework, Van de Vliert et al. (1995; Van der Vliert, Nauta, Giebels
& Janssen, 1999; Van de Vliert et al., 2004) demonstrated that problem
solving was typically combined with forcing. This combination resembled
the “firm flexibility” 1 principle derived from the dual concern
model (Pruitt, 1981), which suggested that contention promoted the
information search necessary for problem solving. Therefore, combining
problem solving with forcing proved highly effective in resolving
conflicts with subordinates (Van de Vliert et al., 1995), specifically forcing
followed by problem solving resulted in the best substantive and
relational outcomes (Van de Vliert et al., 1999). In more recent research,
Van de Vliert, Ohbuchi, Van Rossun, Hayashi, and Van der Vegt (2004)
examined the cultural specificity of these conglomerated behaviors. In
a questionnaire study of Japanese employees, forcing combined with
accommodating emerged as the most effective way to handle conflicts
with superiors.
Contributions and Limitations of Conflict Style and Strategy Research
Conflict style research is one of the first areas in conflict studies that is
directly related to the use of communicative behaviors. This work moved
the field beyond relying on cooperative versus competitive behaviors to
other motivations and choices for handling conflicts. The dual concern
model tied these orientations to specific strategies that embraced both
concern for self and concern for other. This work led to the first coding of
communicative behaviors and efforts to tie intentionality to conflict tactics.
The majority of the conflict style research, however, continues to rely
on self-report instruments rather than coding actual behaviors. While
one self-report measure (DUTCH) correlated positively with independent
observations and ratings of conflict-handling styles (e.g., problem solving,
forcing, yielding, and avoiding; De Dreu, Evers, Beersma, Kluwer, &
Nauta, 2001), other studies found that self-report instruments often serve
as weak predictors of the actual use of communicative behaviors in conflict
situations. Gayle (1991) reported only 17% agreement between scores
on the OCCI (organizational communication conflict instrument) and
messages coded from conflict episodes. When scores on style instruments
1 Firm flexibility refers to being firm with respect to interests but flexible regarding
the means of achieving those interests.