Impact of Conflict Management on Employees’ Performance in the Public Sector

Impact of Conflict Management on Employees’ Performance in the Public Sector

Abstract of Impact of Conflict Management on Employees’ Performance in the Public Sector

This research work is based on the impact of conflict management on employees’ in the public sector using P.H.C.N as a case study.

The objectives of the research work is to identify the causes and consequences of conflicts, and also examine that effectives conflict management can bring about harmonious and peaceful co-existence among various interest groups in the work place with particular reference to P.HC.N.

The methodology adopted in this study was survey research design. The primary and secondary data were used, such as text book, journal and questionnaire. The various tools that were used are statistic distribution method of table percentage and Chi-square to test for the hypothesis.

The findings revealed that conflict in an organization can affect he employee’s performance either positively or negatively.

The recommendation for this study was that it is important for their management in the P.H.C.N to sponsor a detailed research into the cause of both junior and management staff should always be given motivational incentives in order to carry out their duties as expected of them.

Chapter One of Impact of Conflict Management on Employees’ Performance in the Public Sector

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Conflict is inevitable. The dominant rum of management is to maximize profits, while labour’s main concern is to secure and maintain the highest level of wages with the best condition”.  Obisi (1996) argued that despite this fact, peace forms one of the fundamental factors to enhance productivity with .resultant benefit both to labour and management as well as for the economic development of the country. It will not be out of place therefore, to consider conflict as an inevitable and desirable factor in the work place.

Conflict could be viewed as a situation of competition in which the parties are aware of the incomparability of potential future position in which each party wishes to occupy a position that is incompatible with the wishes of the other.

Oxford Dictionary. (2000) sees conflict as a situation in which people, group or countries are involved in a serious disagreement or argument.

Since industrial relations basically rums at the relationship among various actors in the workplace, it then becomes necessary to examine the causes and effects of conflict and to provide insights into how such relationship could be adequately performed.

Programmed or non programmed decision, a programmed decision follows standard operating procedures. There is no need to explore alternatives solutions because the optimal solution has been identified and documented in the past. In contrast, new, complex, or ill-defined problems require non programmed decisions.  In these cases, decision makers must search for alternatives and possibly develop a unique solution. As problems reappear, however, programmed decision routine are formed. In this respect, programmed decisions drive out non programmed decisions because we strive for predicable, routine situation. Conflict could arise because of the employee quest to maximize profit while workers representatives are out to ensure continuous improved condition of living for their member. Conflict could also arise as a result of failure to honour agreed items on collective bargaining.

Damachi (1999), emphasized that if those workers rights and employee prerogative are trampled upon, could also cause conflict. These include pay condition of service, etc.

Indirect participation is used to refer to those forms of participation where representatives or delegates to the main body of employees participate in a variety of ways in the decision making process within the organization. Indirect forms, such as joint consultation, widening the content of collective bargaining and worker; are associated with the boarder’s notion of ‘industrial democracy’ (Barman et., 1976; Bullock, 1977).

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Poor motivation of workers reduces their output, and this results in low profit to the organization. Employees are also being affected.in the area of poor interpersonal relationship, loss of payment, and dismissal from employment or eventual loss of life and time constraint. The effect of such problem is like ill winds that blow nobody any good and it affects organizational performance. All organization stakeholders are usually affected.

Industrial conflict have the potency of social disorder; instability and mass unemployment could affect the government’s ability to fulfill it’s obligation to the citizenry.

Otobo (1987) writing on effects of strikes and lockouts examined resultant effects of industrial conflict at three levels namely psychological, political and economic. In all, every party to industrial action is affected. The need for an effective conflict management to ameliorate the problems emanating from conflict and assist organization in their struggle for the attainment of corporate objective cannot be over-emphasized. The ‘industrial relation climate in power holding company of Nigeria (PHCN) will be the focus on this study.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this research study is to identify and assess the effect of conflict management on employee performance in the public sector the specific objectives are to

a)       Identify the causes and consequences of conflicts

b)      Examine the method by which conflict can be prevented from degenerating into strikes and lockout of the employee

c)       Examine the relevance of conflict management on employee performance

d)      Examine how effective conflict management can bring about harmonious and peaceful co-existence among various interest groups in the work place with particular reference to PHCN.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study will attempt to proffer answer to the question as exhaustively as possible.

1.       What is the impact of conflict management on employee performance in Power Holding Company of Nigeria?

2.       To what extent does conflicts management system have an effect on reduction in labour turnover?

3.       To what extent does conflict management system influence employee commitment in an organization?

4.       What type of conflict management method would minimize workers loss of interest on the job?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

Hi:     The conflict management system adopted by PHCN affects employee performance in the company

Ho:    The conflict management system adopted by PHCN does not affect employee performance.

Hi:     The conflict management system influence employee commitment in an organization

Ho:    Conflict management system does not influence employee performance in an organization.

Hi:     The conflict management system will minimize workers loss of interest in the job

Ho:    The conflict management system will not minimize workers loss of interest on the job.