Sajal Kabiraj, Skyline University College, Sharjah,UAE
J Shanmugan, Skyline University College, Sharjah,UAE
Mohammad Faiz, Skyline University College, Sharjah,UAE

This study examines the application of Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II (ROCI-II), one of the most popular instru- ments used to measure five styles of handling interpersonal conflict in organizational setup, for owner-managers of Indian family-owned-and-managed businesses. The construct of five factorially independent scales, i.e. conflict handling styles (in- tegrating, obliging, dominating, avoiding, and compromising) have been applied in the organizations at various levels. This study attempts to explore the suitability of ROCI-II instrument in the family business context, by assessing the styles obtained from a sample of 124 owner-managers of family businesses and comparing them with the instrument’s five styles. The instru- ment comprises 28 variables on a 5-point Likert scale. The findings of factor analysis of the primary data of 28 variables are compared with the ROCI-II scales, comprising 5 conflict management styles. After conducting a Wilcoxon Test it is confirmed that the ROCI–II scales fit well with the family business owner-managers in allocating the 28 variables into 5 factors, which are similar to the 5 conflict management styles and the difference between them is insignificant.

Keywords: Conflict, Management style, Family managed business

Suggested citation: Kabiraj, S. et al (2009) Effective Conflict Management in Family Managed Businesses: A Case Study in the Indian Diaspora. Skyline Business Journal, Volume 5, No 2, pp 35-51.

Kabiraj, S. et al (2009) Effective Conflict Management in Family Managed Businesses: A Case Study in the Indian Diaspora. Skyline Business Journal, Volume 5, No 2, pp 35-51.