Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Conflict Management as a Tool for Increasing Organizational Effectiveness: A Review of Literature

Ebere Chika John-Eke, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akintokunbo

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v10-i5/7198

Open access

The focus of every organization in the society is to create a very conducive environment where employees can carry out their duties effectively without any negative influence that could hinder the achievement of individual and organizational goals. Hence, organizational effectiveness which includes customer/client satisfaction, as well as quality of work-life, is essential to every institution. Nevertheless, conflict in organizations has become unavoidable because employees contend for authority, position, recognition, scarce resources etc. This paper examines conflict management as a tool for increasing organizational effectiveness. The emphasis is on identifying the nature and significance of conflicts in an organization as well as recognizing levels or types of conflict; then asserting the appropriate strategy to be applied to achieve positive outcomes that will lead to organizational effectiveness. Related journals, textbooks and other online publications in Management, Organizational Behaviour, and other relevant fields were reviewed. Our findings revealed that conflicts do not always put the organization in a bad light, but constructively managed conflict brings about healthy competition, strengthens team participation, and bridges the communication gap. We, therefore, recommend that organizations should reeducate their employees on conflict management construct; dispelling the trendy but untrue notion that conflict is bad, destructive and should be avoided at all costs. Managers should adopt strategy or strategies based on the nature and type of conflict.

Abdullah, A. S. A. (2015). The Impact of Conflict Management on Organizational Effectiveness: A Case Study of Ministry of Higher Education of Jordan. European Journal of Business and Management, 7 (36), 75-79.
Afful-Broni, A. (2012). Conflict management in Ghanaian schools: a case study of the role of leadership of Winneba Senior High School. Journal of Educational Planning & Administration, 2(2), 65-76.
Amin, T., & Shila, S. (2015). Enhancing organizational effectiveness by performance appraisal, training, employee participation, and job definition. European Journal of Business and Management,7(12),56-63.
Anku-Tsede, O., & Adjadogo, N. (2016). Empirical analysis of workplace conflict and its influence on the attitude of media employees in Ghana. Journal of Management Policy and Practice. 17(1), 106-117.
Bercovitch, J. (2011). Conflict and conflict management in Organisations: A Framework for analysis. Retrieved : http://www.aspheramedia.com/v2/ 20/03/2020.
Cloke, K., & Goldsmith, J. (2011). Resolving conflicts at work: Ten strategies for everyone on the job (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, United States of America.
Daly, T. M., Lee, J. A., Soutar, G. N., & Rasmi, S. (2010). ‘Conflict-handling style measurement: a bestworst scaling application’. International Journal of Conflict Management, 21(3), 281-308.
Deutsch, M., Coleman, P. T., & Marcus, E. C. (2006). The handbook of conflict resolution: theory and practice 2nd edition, Jossey- Bass, United States of America.
Dewa, C. S., Corbière, M., Durand, M. J., & Hensel, J. (2012). Challenges related to mental health in the workplace. In R. J. Gatchel & I. Z. Schultz (Eds.), Handbook of occupational health and wellness. 105-129.
Ekundayo, H. T. (2012). Towards strengthening the relationship between trade unions and university management in Nigeria. An International Multidisciplinary Journal, Ethiopia, 6(2), 266-273.
Elmagri, M. I., & Eaton, D. (2011). Identifying the factors causing interpersonal conflict in organizations: Through analysing secondary data. The Built & Human Environment Review, 4(1), 6.
Fajana, S., & Shadare, O. (2012). Workplace relations, social dialogue and political milieu in Nigeria. International Journal of Business Administration, 3(1), 75-83.
Grace, N. (2012). What causes conflict between employees in an organization? Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/causes-conflict-betweenemployees-organization-157.html. 05/04/2020
Hotepo, O. M., Asokere, A. S. S., Abdul-Azeez, I. A., & Ajemunigbohun, S. S. A. (2010). Empirical Study of the Effect of Conflict on Organizational Performance in Nigeria. Business and Economics Journal, 15 (1), 2151-6219.
Ike, C. E. (2010). The impact of conflict on manufacturing decisions and company performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 126(2), 145-157.
Issa, I. A. F. Z. (2009). Organizational conflict management strategies and their relationship to business ethics management, for heads of departments in the faculties of nursing in the Jordanian private universities from the perspective of faculty members, the Middle East University for Graduate Studies. Faculty of Educational Sciences. Retrieved from www.meu.edu.jo 05/04/2020.
John-Eke, E. C., & Gabriel, J. M. O. (2019). Corporate incivility and employee engagement. West African Journal of Business, 13(1), 1595-3750.
Kondalkar, V. G. (2009). Organization Effectiveness and Change Management. PHL Learning Private Limited, New Delhi- 110001.
Mayowa, S. O. (2015). “Industrial conflict and its management in selected Nigerian manufacturing companies”. International Journal of Organizational Leadership. 4, 430-439.
Nnam, M. U. (2013). Conflict and conflict management: A springboard for success and progress in organisations in Nigeria. International Journal of Development and Management Review, 8(1), 63-73.
Noruzi, M. R., & Rahimi, G. R. (2010). Multiple intelligences: A New look to organizational effectiveness. Journal of Manage

In-Text Citation: (John-Eke & Akintokunbo, 2020)
To Cite this Article: John-Eke, E. C., & Akintokunbo, O. O. (2020). Conflict Management as a Tool for Increasing Organizational Effectiveness: A Review of Literature. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 10(5), 299–311.