1 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT Executive Summary: This report examined the influence of conflict management in a workplace on the performance of the organisation in an Australian production and manufacturing firm. All the participants consist of 250 workers those who are appointed through random sampling technique that is stratified. Inferential and descriptive statistics were taken into consideration for analysing the data that are collected from the accused or the respondents. Using the analysis of Spearman correlation that resulted the empirical test which significantly presented the positive relation between the organisational performance and strategies of conflict management. Management strategies of non-integrativeconflicthadadeterminateeffectwhichisstatisticallynegativeonthe performance of the organisation. The analysis of regression specified that the collective strategy of bargaining, which resulted in the highest positive correlation with the performance of the organisation. Some additional study depicts that the conflicts emerge due to multiple factors of the institutional experience that depends on the goal and economic mismatch alignments in the workplace. The conflict of union-management was found to be the most predominant type of conflict that is industrial in an organisation. The report concluded that any conflict is a type of unavoidable concept or phenomenon in the life of an organisation and it can detract or contribute depending on the performance of the organisation which depends on the methods of conflict management that can be adopted in a workplace.
2 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT Table of Contents Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3 Discussion:.......................................................................................................................................4 Literature review:.........................................................................................................................4 2. Part B – Proposing a Model for Conflict Resolution...................................................................8 2.1. Tools for Conflict Resolution...............................................................................................8 People who are best suited to use the Model for Conflict Resolution.........................................9 Situation or Context in which the Model can be used.................................................................9 Cues or Signs that People using the Model can look for...........................................................10 Intrapersonal Cues to look for when using the Model...............................................................10 Interpersonal Cues to look for when using the Model...............................................................11 Important Aspects of the Model of Conflict Resolution...........................................................11 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12 References:....................................................................................................................................13
3 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT Introduction: The structural character of modern work-organisations whether in the field of service industry or manufacturing unit inevitably develops an interest of conflict. These interest of conflicts is emerged in cluster due to resources, position and scarcity of freedom. The conflict in the workplace is widespread, notwithstanding the better management practices in an institution and establishes in different forms as an unavoidable and intrinsic feature of the employment relation. It is a process that takes place in hierarchical organisations where an individual carries background interact, opinion and divergent view.This article provides an overview of conflict management strategies through a literature review. A study was then conducted of 219 radiologic technologists to predict commonalities in conflict management styles in this particular cohort, taking into account education level.Conflict in any work relation is never considered as an aberration because it provides or creates a better chance for reconciliation and correction for the development of the employees and the work organisation. According to Kazimoto (2013), the conflict in the workplace is defined as the existence of discordance takes place when interest, values or goals of different groups or individual are mismatched and aggravate each other that results in attempting to achieve the specific activities in an institution. It is a process of communication and is an unavoidable significance of transactional relationship establishing the dissonance and disagreement in the between the groups and among the individuals in the workplace. Conflict in the workplace is a fact of life in any institution or organisation as individuals will strive for employment, security, power and recognition. Therefore the work of the management is not to solve all the arisen conflicts nor to
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4 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT suppress. The actual task of the management is to enhance and to protect from detraction form the performance of the organisation. Part 1: Discussion: Literature review: Concept of Conflict in the Workplace: Several authors have defined workplace conflict in different ways. Obi (2012) stated the term workplace conflict as an action of contention and discontentment in which the employers or the workers of employment exploit to place excess pressure to each other to fulfil their demands. The same angle of view remains consistent with Henry (2009); Campomar, Veludo and Ikeda (2005), Oghenekohwo (2002), Ajala and Azamoza (2004) described the term of conflict in workplace as an argument that takes place when values, goals and interest of different groups or individuals do not match against each other in an organization. On this context, the employment relationship on the premises of workplace conflict can be considered as an unavoidable clash of disputesandinterestsofvariablestrengthbetweenanyoftheactiveemployeesinan organisation. Focus of the economists on decision making and game theory, interpersonal conflicts are being explored by the psycologists, class and status conflicts are being taken by the sociologists as the point of focus, at the same time the international and intra-national conflicts are being centered by political science.The conflict will surely occur when there will absence in the common values of an organisation. Causative Influences in Workplace Conflict:
5 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT Experimental research has provided visions into the field of causative factors in a workplace conflict. Abdul. Asokere and Hotepo – Ajemunigbohun (2010) and Azeez invented deficiency in resources, competition, expectation, interdependence, deficiency in cooperation and problems in communication are the factors that caused the main conflicts in the service industry of Nigeria. Relatively, the banking sectors of Nigeria, Obasan (2011) recognized improper terms of service, deficiency in human relations in between the workers and the management, non-consultation along with workers before constructing any decision that will affecttheworkers,anti-unionpositionofmanagementanddeficiencyinmechanismfor preventing any conflict as a factor of conflict in workplace. Philippian research has been conducted in the field of the banking sector by Tsevendorj (2008) valued perception, values, culture and failure in communication problems as a quite serious cause of workplace conflict. Classification of Conflict in the Workplace: Ogunbameru (2006) categorised conflict in the workplace into two types: formal and informal workplace conflicts. According to his categorisation, the work-relation conflict is considered as informal when they are not based on any problems of organizational system, but the outcome was supposedly or directly from the grievance source that is sensitive in nature. In this context, the fundamental sources cannot be seen; they can only take place in the form of unconscious protest, bad behaviour, sabotage and lack of work-attitudes by the workers in an organisationIn case the situation gets widespread, it can knowingly affect the focus of a worker’s job description, impact and turnover on the wealth of an institution (Kazimoto, 2013). On the other hand, conflict in a formal work can be expressed as the organised form of expressioninconflictexpressedthroughtheworker'srepresentativesoratradeunion
6 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (Ogunbameru, 2006). These conflicts are highly visible as it is a calculated attempt and conscious strategy for altering the employment relationship. Management if Conflict in the Workplace: According to Rahim (2002), the management of conflict involves ineffective strategy designing for minimising the dysfunctions concerning the conflict to enhance the function of constructionforoptimisingtheeffectivenessandlearningofaninstitution.Aconflict management that is compromising involves a strategy for finding a “mutual ground” which satisfies both the party partly. With the involvement of the strategy every person realize everybodycannotbesatisfiedentirelyinthesituationofconflict.Thisinfersinconflict management that cannot be terminated and avoided, but it decreases the chances of escalation that is not productive. Conflict management is a method which helps to handle the grievances of the people of the people or the organisation for finding an alternative of increasing the resolution effort towards agreement and proposes for genuine decision-making. As found by Anijaobi, Uchendu and Odigwe (2013) as the conflict is unavoidable in an institution, in that case the managementofthecompanywilldecideaboutthenegativeandpositiveeffectonthe performance of the organisation. The immediate explication and the timely recognition of the basic tension before the issues of the conflict go out of the hand are relevant in conflict management in the workplace. The four issues that are situational for considering chooses the conflict that can best manage the conflict; the requirement of the issue that the conflict deals; requirement to maintain good relation with the opposite party, the control of dealing the issu, and the duration of time that
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7 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT canresolvetheissue.Consequently,theorientationof conflictmanagementisahighly conspicuous process that can be applied in several ways in an organisation. Ford (2007) suggested a four-way technique that includes implementation, design, assessment, inquiry and evaluation, which can achieve objective and efficacious conflict of making decision in the workstation. This type of integrative approach often encourages the management for satisfying the basic need of the shareholders for resolving the conflict. King and Vigil (2000) initiated that the implementation of integrative style of conflict management will provide some higher commitment and better result to an individual. It will be better than the groups or teams that use the method of non-integrative management of conflict. The method of integrative approach helps and widens the understanding the problem on the matter of conflict and helps in increasing the resolution.Thomas (1976) provided some better approaches for managing the problems that arise inconflict.Theseincludethecollaboration,compromise,competition,avoidanceand accommodation. The strategy of avoidance is popularly known as conflict avoidance. If any institution or an organisation uses the method of conflict avoidance, it clearly depicts that the particular organisation is sitting on a barrel of gun powder. The strategy of accommodation trusts that any amount of sacrifice is not too much for reign of the place.Strategies of the conflict managementresolves the conflict through behavioral methods. The methods of the resolving conflict through behavior causes a consequences of the external circumtances and person’s specific way of interacting with problems and people, and those who choose to be depending on the significance of others concern versus one’s self concern.It is a soothing technique involving appeasement and capitulation. The strategy of competition helps in involving the win-lose and the fittest method, without granting any other party into consideration. In the strategy of compromise, conflicting parties always will to leave something for settling the problem of
8 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT conflict. The last approach of strategy is the collaboration which clearly says it is a win-win approach where the conflicted parties get ready and prepared willingly full satisfaction of the demands. In case of strategy of collaboration there is an exception which reflects in the attitude that is assertive cooperative, rest of the approaches depends on the organisational structure they deliver a short time resolution to the situation of conflict. Another approach for conflict management for the resolution in Nigeria is presented in the rules of the disputed of Trade Amendment Decree, 1988, No. 39 and Trade dispute Act CAP 18, 2004 which delivered all the five steps for the management of the legal rules of conflict in the organisations within the country. 2. Part B – Proposing a Model for Conflict Resolution Conflict resolution is a process that is aimed at decreasing violence and tolerance, and assists two disputing parties in arriving at a solution to their problems (Ford, 2007). In this section, a model for conflict resolution will be proposed that can be utilized in resolving disputed or stalemate situations, and which can be effective for implementation particularly in a business or organizational setup. This model of conflict resolution will be made up of a number of crucial components or procedures and as such is influenced by the tools that have been proposed by various scholars, for the resolution of conflict (Vigil-King, 2000). 2.1. Tools for Conflict Resolution Some of the tools that the proposed model for conflict resolution can make use of in the specific context or situation in which it is being made use of are as follows – To stay calm while the conflict situation transpires or takes place
9 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT ď‚·To listen to whatever is happening in order to understand the causes of the conflict and why it is taking place. ď‚·To accentuate what it is that is positive about the conflict situation ď‚·To state the case for conflict resolution in as tactful a manner as possible ď‚·To encourage disputing parties to attack the situation that is causing the conflict rather than each other. ď‚·To make sure that the blame game is something that is avoided at all costs in the process of conflict resolution. ď‚·To avoid focusing on the past, and look ahead instead into the future, in order to get the conflict resolved (Rahim, 2002). People who are best suited to use the Model for Conflict Resolution The people who are best suited to make use of the model for conflict resolution that is currently being proposed, are the people who can witness the conflict taking place and who are employed in a managerial or supervisory capacity at the organization. This is the case because in a conflict situation in an organization, it is left to the people in charge to get the matter resolved as soon as possible and to make efforts to keep such a situation from ever arising again in the future (Vigil-King, 2000). Situation or Context in which the Model can be used This is a conflict resolution model that can be made use of in a business setup or organizational setting where conflicts can arise at any given time over differences between among colleagues, differences between and among employees and their supervisors, differences among employees over religious, ethnic and cultural differences including eating habits, work
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10 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT styles and differences over an approach to a particular project or a business situation (Ford, 2007). Cues or Signs that People using the Model can look for Some of the cues or signs that people using the model can look for when making use of this model for conflict situation are intense arguments that appear to be arising among two or more colleagues in an organizational setting, acts of violence, however minor in nature that this may be, and acts of isolation as engaged in by colleagues because of the fact that they cannot get along with the people who they are working with, are working under or both (Ford, 2007). Intrapersonal Cues to look for when using the Model Intrapersonal conflict is something that is seen to occur when an individual experiences conflict within himself or herself because of the fact that his or her goals or objectives appear to be undergoing a change or transformation or are diverging in some or the other way (Albert, 2001). Some of the intrapersonal cues that may be looked for in workers or employees when using this model for conflict resolution are – The dilemma that is experienced by an employee in taking up a promotion because he or she may have been offered a similar promotion at another organization too or are simply happy and content with performing their existing job roles instead of taking up a promotion (Akanji, 2005). The conflict or dilemma that a person expresses when he or she is asked to express what it is that is bothering this person at the workplace in a way that it is affecting the person’s productivity levels but is unable to speak up about it or express it because of fear (Ibid).
11 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT Interpersonal Cues to look for when using the Model Some of the interpersonal cues that can be looked for when using this model of conflict resolution are Signs of intensely competitive behavior among colleagues Differences in approaches to business projects by employees that leads eventually to conflict taking place between or among them Violent acts among employees in the organization such as physical violence or verbal abuse which serves as clear indication of the fact that there is conflict brewing between or among them (Adobie & Arnie, 2005). Important Aspects of the Model of Conflict Resolution The model for conflict resolution that is being proposed is one that is characterized by three important aspects Task– The task of the model is to help managers and supervisors in an organization to get a conflict situation or disputed matter to get resolved in a smooth and hassle free manner, with minimal or no damage being incurred in the process (Adebisi, 2004). Process– The process of conflict resolution would be to first detect or be aware of the fact that conflict is taking place, to identify the sources or causes of the conflict, engage in the process of mediation where the disputing parties are made to understand that what is happening is wrong, attempts are made to resolve differences and invoke empathy, after which a resolution is arrived at by adopting a solution or a status quo that appears beneficial and in keeping with the desires of both or more of the parties involved in the dispute (Adebisi, 2004). Relationships– Once the conflict has been resolved, attempts need to be made on the part of the management to foster positive or constructive relationships among co-workers in order to avoid the conflict situation from arising again. This can be done by placing disputing parties in
12 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT different teams of operation, or under different supervisors who are better capable of handling and managing them (Adobie & Arnie, 2005). Conclusion The first part of this assignment engaged in an in-depth review of literature on how conflict is negotiated and managed at the workplace. A diverse range of perspectives was offered as part of the literature review process on how conflict can be determined, identified, managed and prevented in a business organization with special reference to the country of Nigeria. The second part of the assignment proposed a negotiation model that can be put to use to handle and manage conflict at the workplace. What can be concluded in the ultimate analysis is that conflict negotiation and conflict management is a complex process which is comprised of many parts or aspects and which must be implemented with care, only after taking several important factors into consideration.
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13 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT References: Adebisi, M. (2004). Industrial Conflict and Trade Unionism in Nigeria. Journal of Department of Business Administration, University of Ilorin, 14(1), 11-17. Adomi, E., & Anie, S. (2005). Conflict Management in Nigerian University Libraries. Journal of Library Management, 27(8), 520-530. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/01435120610686098 Ajala, M., & Oghenekohwo, J. (2002, Jan-Dec.). Appraisal of Public Policy on Conflict Resolution for harmonious industrial Relations Practise in Nigeria. Journal of African Labour Studies, 5(1 & 2), 78-87. Akanji, I. (2005). Perspectives in Workplace Conflict Management and New Approaches for the Twenty first Century. In Albert I.O (Ed.), Perspective on Peace and Conflict in Africa: Essays in Honour of Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, Ibadan: John Arches Publishers. Albert, I. (2001). Introduction to Thirty Party Intervention in Community Conflict. Ibadan: John Arches Publisher. Azamosa O. (2004). Industrial Conflict in Nigerian Universities. The case of the Academic staff union of the university teachers’ strike of December 2002 – July 2003. Dept. of Sociology Anthropology and Applied social sciences, British University. Retrieved from http://ww.ajbms.com/articlepdf010506pdf Comboh, M. (2014). Examining Conflicts in Industrial Relations and Collective Bargaining Context and its Impact on Workers and Organizational Performance. Academy of Contemporary Research Journal, 3(1), 14-25.
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15 NEGOTIATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT Henry, O. (2009). Organisational Conflict and its Effects on Organizational Performance. ResearchJournalofBusinessManagement,2(1),16-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/rjbm.2009.16.24 Hotepo, O., Asokere, A. Abdul-Azeez, I., & Ajemuigbolohun, S. (2010). Empirical Study of the Effect of Conflict on Organisational Performance in Nigeria. Business and Economic Journal, 15, 1. Ikeda,A.,Veludo,O.,&Campomar,M.(2005).OrganisationalConflictsPerceivedby Marketing Executives. Electronic Journal of Business and Organisational Studies, 10(1), 22-28. Kazimoto, P. (2013). Analysis of Conflict Management and Leadership for Organizational Change. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 3(1), 16-25. Mba, O. (2013). Conflict Management and Employee Performance in Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. Bonny Island. International Journal of Academic Research in Management, 2(4), 125-139. Mugal, M., & Khan, M. (2013, December). Impact of Conflict and Conflict Management on Organizational Performance. International Journal of Modern Business – Issues on Global Market, 1(3), 1-19. Obasan, K. (2011, August). Impact of Conflict Management on Corporate Productivity: An Evaluative Study. Australian Journal of Business and Management Research, 1(5), 44-49. Obi, R. (2012). Stress and Conflict in Organisation. In Ogunbameru O.A. (Ed.), Industrial Sociology. Ibadan, Spectrum Books Ltd. Ogunbameru, O. (2006). Organizational Dynamics, Ibadan. Spectrum Book Publishers.
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