CONFLICT MANAGEMENT FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE

ABSTRACT

This research study is to examine the impact of conflict management for effective performance in Oredo local Government secretariat, Edo state. In carrying the study, the primary sources of data collection which involves the use of questionnaire was employed, also the secondary sources of data collection which include the use of books, journals, newspaper and internet were also utilized. Five hypotheses were tested using the mean, standard deviations and regression. A total number of 200 copies of questionnaires were raised out of which 147 copies were returned and used for the analysis. Data collected were analyzed using statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) 22.0. The research study found it that there is a significant cause of conflict in an organization. Organizational conflict has a significant effect on employee performance. Collaboration strategy has a significant effect on employee performance. Compromise strategy has a significant effect on employee performance. Avoidance strategy has a significant impact on employee performance. The study concludes that conflict exerts great influence on employee performance of the Oredo Local Government secretariat under study. When conflict is extremely high, it will affect the smooth performance of an organization. The study also revealed that all the conflict management strategy namely collaboration, compromise and avoidance has a significant effect on employee performance. The researcher therefore recommends that good and sound superior-subordinate relationship, effective communication among staff and mutual agreement and respect among the group must be carried out on a daily basis for effective performance in the organization. Public administrators should ensure that they seek employee’s opinion in discovering solution to problems.  Problem solving techniques should be devoid of bias on the part of public administrators of government parastatals. Conflict is a daily reality in organizations; it is the duty of administrators to manage such conflicts. Also, in managing conflict, public administrators should use rule of natural justice and due process. Administrators should follow the legal concept of due process. Similarly, public administrators and all government parastatals should adopt the conflict management strategies studied since they were found to be effective in managing conflicts in organization and also educate the workforce on the best way to channel their grievances. Also, since conflict management strategies studied were found to have significant impact on effective performance, management should not take it with kids’ glove as it can influence the employee performance, and this can either mar or make government parastatals in achieving its stipulated objectives from time to time. Finally, public administrators should take cognizance of the conflict management strategies in their policy formulation as it will ensure that conflicts that may occur within the organization are quickly resolved without disrupting the activities of the organization.