Modeling Conflicts at Work: The Case of Elementary School Employees in Croatia

Katarina Kostelić, Morena Paulišić and Marli Gonan Božac ()
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Morena Paulišić: Faculty of Economics and Tourism, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, 52100 Pula, Croatia
Marli Gonan Božac: Faculty of Economics and Tourism, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, 52100 Pula, Croatia

Administrative Sciences, 2023, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-31

Abstract: This paper aims to explore conflict as a process that includes antecedents, management strategy, and outcomes while examining the role of affective states in an elementary school working environment. After a theoretical overview and systematization of the conflict elements, a questionnaire was developed that satisfies internal reliability and construct validity. Conflicts at the workplace were modeled with Bayesian SEM, and the results point out the prominent role of affective states in conflicts. Findings confirmed that (1) affective states affect the conflict management strategy choice; (2) different conflict management strategies lead to different conflict consequences; and (3) different affective states lead to differently perceived conflict consequences/outcomes. In addition, we conclude that conflicts with dominantly positive and negative affective states behave structurally differently. The revealed role of affective states facilitates future intervention possibilities in education about conflict management strategies and control of emotions and affective states. Raising awareness about affective states’ role in the conflict might increase mutual un-understanding and contribute to a healthy school social environment as a safe space for learning, sharing ideas, and joint actions toward a common goal.

Keywords: conflict process; causes of conflict; conflict management strategies; consequences of conflict; affective states; reliability; validity; bayesian SEM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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