The effect of personal characteristics on conflict management style

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the differences in choosing the conflict management style with regard to some personal characteristics. Design/methodology/approach Using a questionnaire, survey data were collected from 420 full‐time employees working in five different government organizations. Findings The result indicates that there were significant differences found, in choosing the conflict management style, with regard to years of experience, managerial level, and gender, meanwhile these differences could not be found with regard to age. These results and its implications were discussed. Research limitations/implications The research did not include employees in the private sector. Practical implications The paper has implications for management and management development in Kuwait. Originality/value This paper presents original research into an unusual but serious problem facing the employees working in the Kuwaiti Government organizations. It investigates employee's choice of the conflict management style among employees working in the public sector and the personal characteristics that may affect it.