This paper focuses on qualitative methods in researching the area of
conflict management, specifically in Self-Managed Project Team (SMPT).
The research aims to explore the evolvement of conflict management
strategies in SMPT as this type of team is given the responsibility to
solve problems and make decision by themselves. The inductive approach
will overcome the limitation of quantitative method in management
research as one of its objectives is to explain the different elements
of the explored social system and their interconnection. Hence, it aims
at the contextual understanding of social behavior rather than extensive
measurement. This paper also includes the research activities in
details such as the data collection methods which involved
semi-structured interviews and weekly telephone interviews. The findings
of the research proposed that conflict management strategies in SMPT
changes over time from confrontation and cooperative style towards
avoidance due to the issues of reputation and the deadline.