Navigating Conflict and Emotions in Gen Z Group Work: Understanding Preferences, Emotions, and Conflict Management Strategies

Abstract

Teamwork is a crucial component of any setting that requires collaborative work, particularly in undergraduate education, where sustained collaboration and coordination among students in group projects and assignments are essential to their performance. However, variation in team dynamics, conflict experience, and individual behaviors affects overall teamwork. This study investigates how Generation Z (GenZ) navigates through conflicts. The objective of this research is to understand the testimonies regarding group dynamics and how group interactions change over the two brief periods. The constructs used in the study are preferences for teamwork, emotional responses during teamwork, and conflict management strategies. By analyzing these constructs at two points (T1 and T2), the study examines variations in perceptions and behaviors, offering insights into the compelling nature of group interactions among Gen Z students. The results of this study are likely to advance the understanding of the role of individual psychological factors on group performance and conflict processes. In addition, it demonstrates that a heightened awareness of emotions and proficient conflict management strategies can lead to better team functioning. For educators and students, the research implications include a more formal approach, enhanced conflict-resolution strategies, and greater development of emotional competencies in collaborative educational work. This study bridges the theoretical concepts within organizational behavior and real-world educational settings and creates an avenue toward enhancing group-based learning.