A Gender-Based Analysis of Conflict Management Styles for Construction Management Students

Abstract

Previous research suggests that women are more likely to use a collaborative conflict management style, therefore, gender diversity may support the construction industry’s increased need for more collaboration. The Thomas Kilmann Conflict Instrument (TKI) was used to compare the differences in conflict management styles between male and female construction management students. Results indicated that overall female CM students are stronger in some attributes required for collaboration and possess conflict management behaviors that are complementary to their male counterparts.