Task Conflict

Definition

“Disagreements among group members about the content and outcomes of the task being performed.” (de Wit et al., 2012, p. 360)

Jehn, 1994: four-item task conflict subscale
- Jehn, K. A. (1994). Enhancing Effectiveness: An investigation of advantages and disadvantages of value‐based intragroup conflict. International Journal of Conflict Management, 5(3), 223–238. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb022744
Pelled et. al., 1999: 5 item survey of task conflict
- Pelled, L. H., Eisenhardt, K. M., Xin, K. R. (1999) Exploring the black box: An analysis of work group diversity, conflict and performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667029

Braverman, A., & Meiran, N. (2010). Task conflict effect in task switching. Psychological Research, 74(6), 568–578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-010-0279-2
- Manipulated task conflict in a spatial task-switching paradigm.
- Found poorer performance in high task conflict trials than in low task conflict trials.
Puck, J., & Pregernig, U. (2014). The effect of Task Conflict and Cooperation on performance of teams: Are the results similar for different task types? European Management Journal, 32(6), 870–878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2014.03.007
- Analyze the relation between task conflict, cooperation, and performance.
- Asserts that the effect of task conflict on team performance can be mediated by team member cooperation.
Kostopoulos, K. C., & Bozionelos, N. (2011). Team exploratory and exploitative learning: Psychological safety, task conflict, and team performance. Group & Organization Management, 36(3), 385–415. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601111405985
- Constructed measures of distinct team-level activities and and examined their relationship with task conflict.
- Found that task conflict positively moderated the relationship between psychological safety and exploitative learning.