From Triggers to Tactics: Exploring Gendered Dimensions of Conflict and Its Management in Hyderabad’s Private Schools

This study delves into the differences between men and women in terms of the causes of conflict and the conflict management styles they use in organizations. Literature about gender comparison, causes of conflict, and conflict management styles was studied. Responses were collected using a closed-ended questionnaire, which comprises two portions: one about the causes of conflict and another about conflict management styles. A total of 107 private school teachers participated in the survey; a convenience sampling technique was used for selecting the sample. It was revealed that there are similar experiences among men and women in personal causes and most of the structural causes of conflict. Besides, due to poor communication and inadequate resource distribution, men show a higher tendency, and due to unclear group/role structure and perception of group goals, women tend to fall highly into conflict. Moreover, men use a competing style and women use a compromising style of conflict management, but there is no significant difference between men and women in other conflict management styles. The findings will help managers formulate policies to restrain dysfunctional conflicts in the organization and design effective team structures and group roles for managing the conflicts in the organization.