ABSTRACT

This research work is entitled “Effect of Conflict Management Strategies on the Performance of Manufacturing Industries in Abia State, Nigeria”. The broad objective of the study was to examine how conflict management affects organizational performance while the specific objectives were to; determine the extent to which competition strategy of conflict management affects organizational effectiveness; ascertain the extent to which avoidance strategy of conflict management affects organizational profitability; ascertain the extent to which compromise strategy of conflict management affects organizational productivity; and examine the extent to which collaboration strategy of conflict management affects organizational innovativeness. The study adopted the survey research design.. The study organizations had a population of 415 made up of both management and non-management staff of the selected organizations. Taro Yamane technique was used to determine the sample size of 203, to whom questionnaire was administered. The collated the data was analyzed using percentages, mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses formulated were tested using Pearson product moment correlation analysis with the help of SPSS version 22. The study found out that Competition strategy of conflict management significantly affects the performance of organizations to a high extent; conflict avoidance affects the performance of organizations; compromise strategy of conflict management affects organizational performance positively and negatively and finally, Collaboration strategy of conflict management proves to be the best tool for managing conflict at the work place since it requires both parties coming together to pursue a similar goal thereby creating room for better inter-personal relationships within the organization which breeds an environment/workforce characterized by  unity and dedication and innovation. The study therefore recommends that management of organizations should be alert to conflicting situations in the organization and respond swiftly to avoid escalation to an unmanageable stage; be flexible when deciding on which conflict management style to use in conflicting situations as there exists no one conflict management style that best fits all conflict situations; adequate measures should be put in place to prevent conflict in the organization especially when it appears to be with negative consequences; finally, management should endeavour to educate their staff on the different approaches to conflicts and situations where they could be applicable as this would go a long way in forestalling conflicting situations with negative outcomes in the organization.