1. The Role of Ethics on Conflict Handling Styles
A Scenario Based Study
By
Ozan Nadir Alakavuklar & Ulaş Çakar
(November 2012)

2. Roadmap

Research Objectives
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Literature Review
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Theoretical Framework
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Barki and Hartwick’s Conflict Typology
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Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles
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Ethical Approaches
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Methodology
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The Relationship between Ethical Approaches & Conflict Handling Styles
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Deontology and Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles
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Egoism /Relativism and Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles
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Conclusion
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Limitations and Recommendations for Future Research.

3. Research Objectives
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Ethical approaches are taken into consideration in the
context of inter- personal conflict handling
Employed a scenario based approach which is not
widespread in the conflict management literature.

4. Literature Review
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Interpersonal conflict is a natural consequence
of human interaction…
One of the basic processes that must be
managed within organizations (Thomas, 1992).
Conflict Handling Styles
Emotions (Bell & Song, 2005; Desivilya & Yagil, 2005; Shih & Susanto, 2010)
Cultural Traits (Kozan & Ergin, 1999;Ting-Toomey et al., 1991)
Personality (Antonioni, 1998; Barbuto, Phipps,& Xu, 2010)
Religions (Croucher, 2011)

5. Theoretical Framework
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Conflict occurs when two social entities…
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Incongruent activity with their needs
Behavioral preferences
Mutually desirable resource
Exclusive attitudes, values…
Joint actions etc…
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Emergence of Conflict
Ethical Approach(Carlson & Kacmar, 1997).
Differences in Ethical values
Ethical Approach
Conflict
Diff Ethical values

6. Barki and Hartwick’s Conflict Typology
A Typology for Conceptualizing and Assessing Interpersonal Conflict in Organizations
Interpersonal Conflict’s Properties
Interpersonal Conflict’s Focus
Task Content or Task Process
Interpersonal Relationship
Cognition /
Disagreement
Disagreement with the other
about what should be done in a
task or how a task should be
done .
Disagreement with the other’s
personal values, views,
preferences, etc.
Behavior /
Interference
Preventing the other from doing
what they think should be done
in a task or how a task should be
done.
Preventing the other from doing
things unrelated to task .
Affect / Negative
Emotion
Anger and frustration directed
to the other about what should
be done in a task or how a task
should be done .
Anger and frustration directed
to the other as a person.

7. Interpersonal Conflict Handling Styles
The Dual Concern Model of the Styles of Handling Interpersonal Conflict
HIGH
Self
LOW
Integrating
Obliging
Compromising
LOW
Concern
For
HIGH
For
Others
Concern
Dominating
Avoiding

8. Ethical Approaches
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Deontological Approach
Ethical Egoism Approach
Relativism Approach

9. Methodology
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Sample
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Data gathered through a web survey
Study population included every academic personnel working in
public universities in Turkey .
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Data Collection Methods
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Scenario: For concrete decision-making situation resembling
real-life situations.
Scenario is about two assistant professors (Ayla and Murat)
A question is asked to determine whether the given situation is
perceived as a conflict involving situation.
Scales
Ethical orientation scale
Rahim’s Organizational Conflict Inventory-II

10. Methodology
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Analysis
Partial Correlation analysis
Stepwise Regression analysis
Findings
Sample have higher orientation to deontological approach
Integrating handling style preferred
Obliging style least preferred
Social desirability (Control variable)

11. The Relationship between Ethical Approaches &
Conflict Handling Styles
Approaches
Relationship
Conflict Handling Style
Negative
Avoiding, obliging &
compromising
Egoism
Positive
Avoiding, obliging &
compromising
Relativism
Positive
Avoiding, obliging &
compromising
Deontological

12. Supported and Not Supported Hypotheses of the
Hypotheses
Study
Statements
H1
There is a negative relationship between deontology oriented
H2
There is a negative relationship between deontology oriented
H3
There is negative relationship between deontology oriented
individual and tendency to choose avoiding style in a conflict
situation
There is a positive relationship between deontology oriented
H4
individual and tendency to choose obliging style
individual and tendency to choose compromising style
individual and tendency to choose dominating style
Result
Supported
Supported
Not Supported
Not Supported
H5
There is a positive relationship between egoism oriented
individual and tendency to choose obliging handling style.
Supported
H6
There is a positive relationship between egoism oriented
Not Supported
H7
There is a positive relationship between relativism oriented
individual and tendency to choose obliging style.
Supported
individual and tendency to prefer integrating style .

13. Discussion
The relationship between ethical approaches and handling styles is intensified in the
area of obliging style.
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The study led to a distinction between “concern for self” and “concern for others” on
the basis of the ethical approaches (either with a positive or a negative relationship)
CONCERN FOR SELF
HIGH
LOW
CONCERN FOR OTHERS
LOW
HIGH
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Integrating
Obliging
Compromising
Dominating
Avoiding
Egoism
Relativism
Deontological(Negative)
Egoism
The Intensity of the Relationship on Dual Concerns Model

14. Deontology and Interpersonal Conflict Handling
Styles
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Deontology oriented individual does not oblige or compromise
in a conflict situation.
The perception of the given conflict situation does not provide
tools for Deontological individuals to integrate .
In the given scenario, the results indicate that domination tool
is not perceived.
There is negative relationship between avoiding and
deontology approach.

15. Egoism and Interpersonal Conflict Handling
Styles
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An individual with Egoism will demonstrate obliging style.
An individual oriented to egoism approach may prefer
avoiding style.
Egoism oriented individual does not prefer compromising
style since the actors do not have any alternative to
negotiate.
In the scenario, it is noticed that integration style is not
preferred by Egoism approach.
The scenario are not perceived enough for preferring
dominating style

16. Relativism and Interpersonal Conflict Handling
Styles
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(a)
(b)
(c)
The scenario given, a relativism oriented individual has
tendency to choose obliging style.
The situation given in the scenario does not provide a possible
way of collaboration with Murat.
In the given scenario depending upon the situation it is not
reasonable for relativism oriented person to employ
Dominating style because of being colleagues and having
insufficient tools,
Avoiding style since there is no need to ignore the situation
Compromising style since there is nothing that Ayla can offer
in the negotiation.

17. Conclusion
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This study indicated that ethical approaches have a role in
determining the preference of interpersonal conflict handling
style with the given scenario.
The findings are also valuable considering the diversified nature
of the workplaces.

18. Limitations and Recommendations for Future
Research
 Limitations
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Just three of the ethical approaches
Limited ethical conflict situation described in the scenario.
 Recommendations
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Different positions among the conflict experiencing.
Considering the cultural dimensions.

20. Questions
Please