Impact of personality and spirituality on conflict management styles: a proposed model

Abstract

Organization is a collection of diversified work force. Its productivity depends upon the smooth relationship among these human resources. Nevertheless, whenever there is an interaction between diversified individuals, conflict becomes inevitable. Research shows that we cannot eliminate conflict in human interactions but we have to manage it so that the destruction of performance can be minimized. To achieve this, management has to learn the context of conflict in broader terms; objectives of parties involved in the conflict and the factors that guide conflict resolution process. Along other predictors, personality of individual plays a vital role in developing understanding of conflict like particular situations and determining resolution options. Additionally, human behavior depends upon beliefs and values. These religious beliefs are supposed to direct human behavior when the human internalizes these beliefs into his life. This internalization of religious beliefs in human life is called spirituality. Religious beliefs are considered as core beliefs that are supposed to change enduring characteristics of personality. Hence, it can be presumed to change individual choices in conflicting situations one needs to understand the impact of personality and spirituality on conflict. Based upon these suppositions supported with literature, propositions have been presented for further research.