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The Impact Mechanism Of Cross-functional Project Team Relationship Conflict On Project Performance

Posted on:2016-06-29Degree:DoctorType:Dissertation
Country:ChinaCandidate:X Y HuoFull Text:PDF
GTID:1109330485955048Subject:Management Science and Engineering
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Cross-functional project team relationship conflict is inevitable due to team members’ diversity and team task’s uncertainty. Relationship conflicts lead to interpersonal incompatibilities between team members, which may prompt negative feelings such as tension, animosity and hatred. Empirical studies have pointed out the dysfunctional effect of relationship conflict on project performance. Thus, it is important to explore how to manage and weaken the negative influence of relationship conflict on project performance in order to have project success.Reviewing the literature, we found that studies on cross-functional project team relationship conflict are limited, while the team form and the team operation model of cross-functional projects is increasingly complex. Therefore, based on the cross-functional project team characteristic and the existing theories, this study will identify the relationship conflict critical influence factors of cross-functional project team and explore the influence mechanism of relationship conflict on project performance, and then propose relationship conflict manage ment strategies. The main contents and innovative work include:Firstly, the study started to identify the relationship conflict critical influence factors of cross-functional project team. The study extracted the influence factors of a cross-functional project team through a literature review, a pilot questionnaire and discussion from an advisory group. Then, the study collected the data through a subsequent questionnaire and identified the final critical influence factor using the structural equations model method.Secondly, the study draws upon the contingency factor-political skill in order to explore the impact mechanism of cross-functional project team relationship conflict on project performance through negative emotions. The study results indicated that politically skilled team members have the ability to understand relationship conflict accurately and respond rapidly, they are good at utilizing individual influences and genuine attitudes towards communication with other parties, and then other parties will feel at ease and trusted. Thus, the negative influences from the relationship conflict weaken.Thirdly, the study explored the influence mechanism of cross-functional project team relationship conflict on project performance from a multilevel perspective. The study results demonstrated that the negative effect of cross-functional project team relationship conflict not only has an effect on project performance, but also on team members’ job satisfaction. The study confirmed the multilevel construct of cross-functional project team relationship conflict.Finally, the study proposed a revised graph model conflict resolution method based on the Graph Model Conflict Resolution Method and the conflict party’s conflict management styles. Meanwhile, a conflict example is illustrated to demonstrate the practicality of the model. According to the conflict results analysis, the study proposed cross-functional project team relationship conflict manage ment strategies.
Keywords/Search Tags:cross-functional project team, relationship conflict, negative emotions, project performance, political skill
PDF Full Text Request
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