Understanding the integrative approach to conflict management

Purpose - Integration is an active search for information about facts and interests - motivated by a willingness to find mutually satisfactory agreements - and is usually necessary for creating high quality settlements in conflicts. The purpose of this paper is to examine the integrative approach to conflicts. Design/methodology/approach - Surveys, scenario studies, and experiments were used to explore factors relating to an integrative approach. First, how integration affected various outcome qualities (Study 1 and Study 2) was examined. Then Studies 3, 4 and 5, respectively, examined how integration was influenced by demographic (gender and education), individual (achievement motivation, creativity, and cognitive style), and relational (quality of the relationship) factors. Findings - Results demonstrated that an integrative approach is beneficial for various outcome-dimensions (quality, satisfaction, fairness, and trust). Regarding predictors of an integrative approach, being male business students are negatively related to integration, while having high achievement motivation and a good relationship are positively related. Research limitations/implications - The correlational design in some of the studies make conclusions about causality questionable, and future research should examine the dynamic conflict process in more detail. Practical implications - It is helpful to know that taking an integrative approach favours all types of outcomes in conflict management processes, and that high achievement motivation and a good relationship stimulate an integrative approach. Originality/value - The paper shows how different variables relate to an integrative approach and offers insight to those involved in conflict management processes.