The purpose of this study was to measure the attitudes of the middle level career Army officers relative to the concepts of conflict management. The scope of the study narrowed the view to the interpersonal and intergroup levels of conflict. The major conclusions, based on an extensive review of the literature concerning conflict management and its related fields of study, an exploratory analysis employing Hierarchical Clustering Schemes, and inferential tests of significance were: (1) The middle level career Army officers have significantly positive attitudes relative to the concepts of conflict management. (2) No difference exists in the attitudes of conflict management according to the sample's three branch groups: combat arms, combat support, and combat service support. (3) Officers with considerable staff time demonstrated a consistent cluster relationship to the attitudes of conflict management. Command time did not show a cluster relationship. (4) The trend toward a more flexible style of management is apparent and uniform in the middle level career Army officers, (5) The Rider-Coughlin Instrument, empirically designed using Hierarchical Clustering Schemes, proved to be applicable to large samples and easily analyzed with published computer packages. (6) Hierarchical Clustering Schemes determined the cluster relationships between the independent variables and the attitudes of conflict management. This exploratory method of attitude analysis identified several significant findings. (7) The crux to the constructive management of conflict lies in the problem-solving approach within a cooperative atmosphere. (8) Certain managerial traits are more conducive to the constructive management of conflict. These traits facilitate and develop within a cooperative and mature atmosphere.

ADA 031564 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)