IJMB Journal – Abstracts

International Journal of Management and Business

IJMB Volume II, Issue 1

 

A Correlational Study of Professional Culture and Intraorganizational Conflict
Linda M. Herkenhoff*, Jo Ann Heydenfeldt

Saint Mary’s College, Moraga, California.
lmherk@stmarys-ca.edu, drjocc@comcast.net

ABSTRACT

This study is based on data from Sales and Accounting functions in three different organizations. We know that the contextual inputs to behavior in sales and accounting include professional, organizational and national culture. By holding national culture and organizational culture constant, this paper focuses on the influence of professional culture in conflict interactions. The data from this study suggest that both accounting and sales have strong and distinct professional cultures. The greatest cultural value differences occur with the dimensions of individualism and uncertainty avoidance. There is a significant positive correlation between dimensional variance and conflict frequency. The findings suggest that cultural dimensions with incongruent values between the two professions are positively correlated with interdepartmental conflict. Through better understanding of professional culture we may be more effective at managing conflict in the workplace.

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