Title: Decision making by Chinese managers in simulated conflict over welfare issues: responding to Other-Party's Strategy with moderation by hierarchy and past relationship

Authors: Shan Ma

Addresses: Brisbane Graduate School of Business, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia

Abstract: As part of a larger research project, this study aims to examine the way people respond to Other-Party|s Strategy during conflict processes. Three hundred and eighty-four Chinese managers participated in a simulation of conflict over welfare issues. The participants| behaviour during the simulation confirms that, in addition to the widely reported reciprocating behaviour, one party|s strategy also tends to promote certain related strategies and suppress other strategies by another party. Furthermore, these responses to Other-Party|s Strategy are moderated by existing hierarchical and interpersonal relationship between the conflicting parties.

Keywords: conflict management; welfare issues; conflict simulation; China; decision making; interpersonal relationships.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2007.012718

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2007 Vol.8 No.2/3/4, pp.153 - 175

Published online: 10 Mar 2007 *

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