Patterns of Organizational Conflict

Patterns of relationships were identified between indices of organizational conflict and several measures of each of five organizational variables: structural differentiation, participation in the authority system, regulating procedures, heterogeneity and stability of personnel, and interpersonal structure. The measures were adapted from 1500 questionnaires and 600 interviews in 28 public high schools. It was found that size, specialization, hierarchy, complexity, staff additions and heterogeneity were related to organizational conflict; participation in the authority system and cohesiveness of peer group relations seemed to be conducive variables facilitating conflict; while experience and close supervision seemed to be integrative variables. However, it was also found that the same variables were correlated with conflict in different ways, depending upon the bureaucratic and professional context and the type of conflict involved. It is suggested that further descriptive research on patterns of organizational conflict must precede the construction of models of organization that allow for conflict.