The relationships between team process variables and conflict types - a systematic review

Abstract

The increasing use of teams within organizational contexts has led to a significant stream of literature examining the impact and consequences of intra-group conflicts on team outcomes. The purpose of this review is to identify and analyze process factors and emergent states in conflict research in terms of their impact on the relationship between conflict types (task, relationship, process and interest-based) and team effectiveness. A systematic literature search was conducted resulting in 182 articles included in the second screening. The preliminary results indicate different process factors and emergent states like conflict management styles and team cohesion. The results of the review give an overview of the process variables in conflicts and can be used to identify key factors for managing conflicts within teams. Furthermore, it can guide the development of interventions and training programs.