User Participation, Conflict, and Conflict Resolution: The Mediating Roles of Influence.

Author List: Barki, Henri; Hartwick, Jon;
Information Systems Research, 1994, Volume 5, Issue 4, Page 422-438.
User participation has long been considered a key ingredient in information system development (ISD). However, research has generally failed to clearly demonstrate the benefits of user participation. A better description of interpersonal processes which occur during system development could be used to help explain the weak results. The present study builds upon the work of Robey and his colleagues (Robey and Farrow 1982, Robey et al. 1989, Robey et al. 1993), who examined user participation, influence, conflict, and conflict resolution during ISD. Results obtained in a field study of 74 IS projects suggest the following four conclusions: (i) conflict is best represented and measured as a multidimensional construct; (ii) the relationship between user participation and conflict is more complex than previously believed; (iii) influence has a dual role in the emergence of conflict; and (iv) influence plays a key role in the satisfactory resolution of conflict.
Keywords: Conflict; Influence; System development; User participation
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#66 0.294 conflict management resolution conflicts resolve interpersonal consensus robey strategies interdependence optimistic occur degree diversity resolving agreement 1993 1982 distributed issues
#269 0.188 participation activities different roles projects examined outcomes level benefits conditions key importance isd suggest situations contextual furthermore benefit levels focus
#253 0.153 user involvement development users satisfaction systems relationship specific results successful process attitude participative implementation effective application authors suggested user's contingency
#51 0.091 results study research experiment experiments influence implications conducted laboratory field different indicate impact effectiveness future participants evidence test controlled involving
#138 0.064 use question opportunities particular identify information grammars researchers shown conceptual ontological given facilitate new little constraints dual answer post-adoption theory
#220 0.061 research study different context findings types prior results focused studies empirical examine work previous little knowledge sources implications specifically provide