Entre Conflitos e Cooperação: Explorando o Papel das Emoções Positivas, Confiança e Liderança em uma Instituição Pública Federal

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between conflicts and cooperation in a federal public institution, exploring variables such as emotions, leadership, and trust that influence these dynamics. Using a quantitative approach, six hypotheses developed based on a review of the existing literature were tested. The sample consisted of employees of a federal agency that exercises, throughout the national territory, the prevention and repression of infractions against the economic order. Validated instruments were used to collect data, which allowed for a more precise measurement of the constructs investigated. The assessment of intragroup conflict was carried out using the Jehn scale (1995). The measurement of shared leadership was based on the tool proposed by Carson et al. (2007). Trust and cooperation were assessed using the Costa et al. (2017) scale. Finally, the Work-Related Affective Feelings (WORAF) instrument was used to measure the emotion variable. The analyses were conducted using Structural Equation Modeling, using the Partial Least Squares method and the SmartPLS® 4.0 software. The results indicated that task conflict does not have a significant association with positive emotions, while affective conflict has a negative association. Both hypotheses that shared leadership moderates the relationship between conflict (task and affective) and emotions were not confirmed. On the other hand, the positive relationship between positive emotions and trust, as well as between trust and cooperation, was supported. The study highlighted the complexity of the interactions between conflict, cooperation, emotions, leadership and trust. As a theoretical contribution, it deepens the understanding of the dynamics of conflict and cooperation in organizations; as a practical contribution, it offers support for leaders to develop effective conflict management strategies.