Conflict management and effectivity in multicultural teams: Team processes and conflict management styles
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School of Business |
Bachelor's thesis
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Date
2018
Department
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Mcode
Degree programme
(Mikkeli) Bachelor’s Program in International Business
Language
en
Pages
47 + 9
Series
Abstract
Objectives The main objectives of this study were to explore multicultural teams, conflict occurring in them, the effects of conflict and effectivity throughout teamwork. Specifically, the research attempts to find the appropriate conflict management style considering cultural diversity within teams that minimizes the negative effects of conflict. The paper also examines conflict and other team processes in different stages of teamwork, provides insight for the differences between the stages, and attempts to find ways to utilize cultural differences. The main objective is to optimize effectivity of multicultural teams. Summary The research was conducted to provide more insight for multinational corporations to utilize their diverse resources. Conflict has been proven to be either constructive or destructive for teamwork processes, which especially multicultural teams may find difficult due to the additional differences in the teams. Conflict management can be very effective and teach members to embrace constructive conflict, learn from it and reinforce more coherent teamwork. The beginning stages of teamwork are especially vulnerable as common processes are not established yet. Thus, the research studies conflict and effectivity of multicultural teams throughout team building stages and different team processes. Conclusions Multicultural team were found to be more complicated compared to homogeneous teams. Additional awareness and cultural competence training is needed for the beginning stages of teamwork, as the cultural differences were only learned throughout working, which makes initial work less effective. As members know each other personally, they are motivated to work more coherently and consider others. Coherence and common team identity increased negotiations and constructive conflict, and decreased relationship conflict and ambiguous processes.Description
Thesis advisor
Mironski, JacekKeywords
multicultural teams, constructive conflict, relationship conflict, conflict management styles, team roles and processes, effectivity