ABSTRACT

This study examined the impact of workplace conflict management on organization competitiveness in selected manufacturing firms in Edo State, Nigeria. I he study sought to determine the extent collaborating strategy enhance sustainable competitive, examine the extent accommodating strategy boost overall productivity, ascertain the effect of compromising strategy on organizational profitability, establish the relationship between workplace conflict management and organizational performance identity the factors hindering workplace conflict resolution in selected manufacturing firms in I do State. Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted for this study. The research adopted primary and secondary data to gather information from the respondents. I he target population of 324 consists of staff of Integrated Rubber Products Nigeria Pic. Okomu Oil Palm Company and Portland Paints and Product Nigeria Pic. The sample size of 179 was derived from laro Yamane formula, which was distributed to the selected manufacturing firms in Edo State. A total of 179 copies of questionnaire were distributed. (>7 questionnaires were wrongly filled with percentage ratio of 37.4% while 112 questionnaires were correctly filled and returned with percentage ratio of 62.5% that formed the basis of the study. A stratified sampling method was adopted for this study. In testing the hypotheses of (his study ANOVA. Z-Test. Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient and OLS regression analysis of’SPSS Version 20 was adopted. The study found that collaborating strategy to a high extent enhances sustainable competitive advantage in selected manufacturing firms in I do Slate. Nigeria, (f- statistics = 9.820. mean square = 4.026 with p- value = .001 < 0.05% significance level). Accommodating strategy to a high extent boost overall productivity in selected manufacturing firms in Edo State, Nigeria, (f- statistics = 12.625. mean square = 4.507 with p- value = ,003< 0.05% significance level). There is a positive effect of compromising strategy on organizational profitability in selected manufacturing firms in Edo State. Nigeria, (pvalue = .0041 < .05 significance level). There is a positive relationship between workplace conflict management and organizational performance in selected manufacturing firms in Edo State. Nigeria, (r = .656 with p-value - .003 <.05 significant level). Threats of violence, poor communication, harassments and differences in values and beliefs are the factors hindering workplace conflict resolution in selected manufacturing firms in Edo Slate. Nigeria. (R2= 72.1%. t-value = 0.666 p-value= ,000<.05% significance level, t-value = 3.416. p-value=.012<.05% significance level, t-value = 1.727. p-value=.004<.05% significance level and t-value = 2.154. pvalue=.013<.05% significance level. Therefore, the study concluded that workplace conflict management strongly affects organization competitiveness. The study recommended that training workshops should be organized for staff of organizations on conflict resolution procedure and there should be adequate interaction and dialogue in conflict resolution as this will curtail some factors hindering resolution of conflict.