The effects of sex differences on the perception and management of superior—subordinate conflict: An exploratory study

Abstract

This study examined the impact of an employee's sex on the management of superior—subordinate conflict and how behavior during such interaction affected perceptions of the constructive use of disagreement and performance on the job. Male (n = 55) and female (n = 40) management personnel described how they dealt with differences and disagreements involving their immediate supervisor and how he/she responded to such conflict. Significant differences emerged between the perceptions of males and females reporting to males concerning the behavior of their supervisors. Preliminary analyses suggested that the sex of a supervisor was unrelated to female subordinates' perceptions of conflict management. No differences were observed between the likelihood with which male and female subordinates would use various methods to deal with disagreement. The manner in which the subordinate dealt with conflict was significantly related to perceptions of the constructive use of disagreement in the female sample but not in the male sample. None of the five methods of managing conflict examined in the study were related to supervisor evaluations of either the subordinate's performance or effort on the job.