This research was meant to fill a gap in the matrix organization conflict literature. First, a model of conflict which established a taxonomy of conflict and integrated the conceptual matrix literature was developed. This model included the antecedent, latent, and manifest variables identified in previous literature. Additionally, the affective and substantive variables were integrated into the taxonomy. Thus, a model which meshed the interpersonal and strategic nature of conflict was detailed. Second, a measure of conflict which approached an appropriate level of scaling was found which equated product manager-functional executive strategy variances. This measure represented the revised plans of managers operating in a stable growth setting which emphasized incremental decision making. Third, a set of individual, organizational, and environmental constructs were proposed as explanatory variables of the strategy variances. Conflict was said to function in relation to risk, the environment, goal/reward system, role orientation, motivation and power balance. Fourth, three industries consisting of matrix organizations were created through the use of the Systems Analysis Research Paradigm. Business policy students were employed as surrogate managers in the simulated setting. / The research met with varying degrees of success. First, it was found that risk plays a major role in the conflict between product manager and the functional executive. As such, the innovation that occurs as a result of the vertical and horizontal information flows represents a positive aspect of the matrix structure. Second, the task-environment relationship may provide mixed strategies within the matrix. The various interfaces experienced increasing and decreasing amounts of conflict depending on the nature of the task and the direction of environmental change. Third, the use of an integrative reward system may decrease the degree of conflict in a matrix. Fourth, the type of individuals and their various motivations may affect the amount of conflict in a matrix. Fifth, the locus of decision may interact with the task to produce more or less conflict. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-10, Section: A, page: 4561. / Thesis (D.B.A.)--The Florida State University, 1981.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74649 |
| Contributors | KUEHN, RALPH ROBERT., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 328 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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