The influence of cognitive style diversity on intra-group relationship conflict, individual-level organizational citizenship behaviors and the moderating role of leader-member-exchange

Qi, Meng and Armstrong, Steve (2019) The influence of cognitive style diversity on intra-group relationship conflict, individual-level organizational citizenship behaviors and the moderating role of leader-member-exchange. International Journal of Conflict Management . ISSN 1044-4068

Full content URL: http://doi.org/10.1108/IJCMA-09-2018-0105

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The influence of cognitive style diversity on intra-group relationship conflict, individual-level organizational citizenship behaviors and the moderating role of leader-member-exchange
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Abstract

Abstract
Purpose - This study investigates the influence of cognitive style diversity on intra-group relationship conflict and individual-level organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). The role of leader-member exchange as a moderating variable is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach – We used hierarchical linear modelling (HLM) and hierarchical regression analysis (HRA) to analyze results from a sample of 344 members from 83 teams nested within 126 departments in six manufacturing organizations in the
People’s Republic of China.

Findings – Results yielded general support for our hypothesized relationships between cognitive style diversity and intra-group relationship conflict. Leader-member exchange was also found to moderate the relationship between these two variables. Contrary to expectations, there were no relationships between these variables and individual-level organizational citizenship behaviors.

Originality/value – This research addresses calls from the team diversity and conflict literatures to address the understudied area of deep-level cognitive diversity. Second, our study addresses previous calls for more team-level and mixed-level theory and methodology to inform OCB research. Third, this is the first study of group-level cognitive style diversity and the moderating influence of leader-member-exchange and provides valuable insights into ways of mitigating some of the negative effects of cognitive diversity on teams.

Keywords:cognitive style, diversity, organizational citizenship behaviors, leader-member-exchange, relationship conflict
Subjects:N Business and Administrative studies > N200 Management studies
N Business and Administrative studies > N600 Human Resource Management
N Business and Administrative studies > N290 Management studies not elsewhere classified
Divisions:Lincoln International Business School
ID Code:36071
Deposited On:28 May 2019 11:17

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