Article

The Effect of Task Conflict on Relationship Quality: The Mediating Role of Relational Behavior

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Abstract

Previous studies have paid insufficient attention to how interorganizational task conflict affects relationship quality between parties. On the basis of survey data from the construction industry, this study explores the impact of interorganizational task conflict on relationship quality and the mediating role of relational behavior. The empirical results reveal that task conflict affects relationship quality (including satisfaction, trust, and commitment) negatively. Relational behavior has three dimensions: flexibility, information exchange, and solidarity. Information exchange partially mediates the effect of task conflict on satisfaction, trust, and commitment; solidarity plays a partial mediating role in the impact of task conflict on trust and commitment; and flexibility only mediates the impact of task conflict on satisfaction partially. Relational behavior in accordance with relational norms can partially account for the impact of interorganizational task conflict on relationship quality. This paper also provides practical guidance for construction practitioners.

Keywords: construction project, relational norms, relationship quality, relational behavior, task conflict

How to Cite:

Lu, W. & Guo, W., (2019) “The Effect of Task Conflict on Relationship Quality: The Mediating Role of Relational Behavior”, Negotiation and Conflict Management Research 12(4), 322-342. doi: https://doi.org/10.34891/n22v-g982