Conflict Management and Resolution in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Anambra State

ABSTRACT This study looked at the extent to which conflict management and resolution affect productivity in small and medium scale enterprises in Anambra state. The objectives of the study include to identify the causes of conflict in small and medium scale enterprises, to highlight the positive and negative causes of conflicts, to evaluate the strategies for managing them and to assess to which worker’s productivity are affected by conflicts.This study utilized data from primary and secondary sources, the primary sources was gathered from questionnaire and personal interview while the secondary sources was from the use of textbooks, journals, magazines, newspapers etc. The study was aimed at finding the best methods of managing conflicts in small and medium scale enterprise in Anambra state. The researcher introduced the research topic by studying the background of the topic, formulating the research questions and hypothesis. The study also led the researcher to review some work done by other researchers on the topic, also, the study discussed the research methodology used for the topic which was the survey method and the methods used for the analysis of the data collected. Subsequently, the study discussed the data collected also the tests of hypotheses was carried out using such instruments as the T- test statistical tools and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The result of the analysis revealed that there really exists conflicts in small and medium scale enterprises and there are consequences of such conflicts in the organizations studied and the strategies used by management in resolving conflicts in their organizations did not yield positive results. The study at the end of the work discussed the summary of the major findings of the research which revealed that that workers’ productivity is affected by conflicts, to this end, the study recommended among others that better strategies should be adopted by management in resolving conflicts in their organizations, such strategies include in-house resolution, dialogue etc, this will ensure that everyone is carried along and it will make for optimal performance of staff in the organization.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Declaration ii

Approval iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgements v

Abstract vi

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem 4

1.3 Objectives of the Study 5

1.4 Research Questions 5

1.5 Formulation of Research Hypotheses 6

1.6 Significance of the Study 6

1.7 Scope of the Study 7

1.8 Limitations of the Study 7

1.9 Operational Definitions of Terms 8

References 11

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Conceptual Framework 12

2.1.1 Kinds of Conflicts 14

2.1.2 Types of Conflicts 19

2.1.3 Conflict Approaches 20

2.1.4 Conflict Dynamics 20

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2.1.5 Features of Impending Conflict 21

2.1.6 Sources of Conflict 21

2.1.7 Conflict Management in a Globalized World 22

2.2 Theoretical Framework 23

2.2.1 The Power-Politics Approach 25

2.2.2 The Conciliatory Approach 26

2.2.3 Classical Ideas 27

2.2.4 Role Theory 27

2.2.5 The Traditional View of Conflict 28

2.2.6 The Behavioural View of Conflict 28

2.2.7 The Interactionist View of Conflict 29

2.3 Empirical Review of Conflict Management and Resolution 29

2.3.1 Causes of Conflicts in SMEs 29

2.3.2 Consequences of Conflicts in Organisations 32

2.4 Effects of Conflicts 33

2.5 Conflict Management Strategies 35

2.6 Bargaining – The Universal Process 46

2.6.1 Factors Determining the Outcome of the Bargaining Process 46

2.7 New Development in Conflict Management Theory and Practise 54

2.8 Diagnosis 54

2.9 The Judicial Approach 55

2.10 Parties Involved in Conflict Management in Organisations 56

2.11 Conflict Resolution Methods 57

2.12 Summary of Review of Related Literature 58

 References 60

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design 63

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3.2 Sources of Data 63

3.2.1 Primary Sources of Data 63

3.2.2 Secondary Sources of Data 64

3.3 Population of the Study 64

3.4 Sample Size Determination 64

3.5 Instruments for Data Collection 65

3.6 Validity of the Instruments 66

3.7 Reliability of the Instruments 66

3.8 Method of Data Collection 68

3.9 Method of Data Analysis 68

References 69

CHAPTER FOUR

 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Data Analysis 70

4.2 Test of Hypotheses 97

4.3 Discussion of Results

 104

References

 106

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of Major Findings

 107

5.2 Conclusion

 108

5.3 Recommendation

 108

5.4 Contribution to Knowledge

 109

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5.5 Suggested Area for Further R