A Longitudinal Evaluation of Conflict Management Capacity Building Efforts in Higher Education

Abstract

The cost of conflict avoidance and mismanagement can be detrimental to organizational environments. Thus, the need for individuals capable of managing conflict effectively is a vital and necessary leadership skillset, specifically within higher education. The purpose of this study was to examine if participation in the LEAD21 leadership development program, a national leadership program for faculty emerging as leaders in the land-grant university system, changed participant levels of conflict management capacity. The longitudinal analysis included comparisons across members of four classes in the LEAD21 program, as well as the aggregated data from all four years. Results indicated the overall level of conflict management capacity rose by an average of 15.1%. Agricultural leadership educators can use the results to inform leadership education initiatives while also using the presented Conflict Management Scale to measure such initiatives. Study expansions, implications, and recommendations are discussed.