For a contingent approach of conflict resolution mechanisms: the case of innovation networks

Abstract

International audiencePrevious researches on interorganizational relations show contradictory findings on the link between conflict and members satisfaction. While recent literature sketches some insight to refine the influence of different type of conflicts, resolution mechanisms that overcome these conflicts remains less studied. Our research proposes that conflict resolution mechanisms moderate hub firm satisfaction, depending on the type of conflict. Study of 173 innovation networks hub's firms demonstrate contingent relationships between type of conflict and resolution mechanisms on hub firm satisfaction. The expected negative effect of task conflict on hub firm satisfaction is positively moderate by soft resolution mechanisms (discussion and soft pressure), and the degradation caused by the relational conflicts on the hub firm satisfaction is compensate by the hard conflict resolution mechanism (mediation and court). These results shed new light on how to mitigate conflicts in the context of innovation, prone to discordances. Theoretically, this research paves the way for a joint consideration of literature on conflict types and literature on resolution mechanisms that are typically treated separately