Abstract:
Cape Coast Polytechnic, like any other organization, is likely to encounter
conflict. This survey identified causes and types of conflict among the Cape Coast
Polytechnic staff and examined the conflict management techniques employed in
managing it. The sample of this study was made of one hundred and fifteen
respondents selected from various departments of Cape Coast Polytechnic.
A validated questionnaire and interview guide were designed and
administered to collect data on the occurrence of conflict and conflict
management strategies. Data collected were analysed using frequency counts and
percentages.
The findings revealed that personality incompatibility, poor
communication, inadequate resources, power struggle, role ambiguity, time
pressure, favourtism and competition are responsible for conflict in Cape Coast
Polytechnic.
Again, the study revealed that management most often employed
dominance and supervision methods like forcing, coercing which created a winlose
situation in which the loser ended up being disappointed and hostile. Such
conflict management mechanisms, it was realized, never kept dysfunctional
conflict at an appreciable level but rather, tended to resurface itself in another
dimension.
Based on the findings, it is recommended that management of Cape Coast
Polytechnic needs to give prompt attention to addressing causes of conflicts. The use of dialogue in resolving conflicts should be embraced. Again it is
recommended that management of Cape Coast Polytechnic should assist heads of
departments or concerned parties to re-examine conflict situations. Ideally,
management should both be willing to look at the situation from the other’s point
of view.
It further recommended that management should try as much as possible
to discourage victimization in the Polytechnic. Polytechnic staff should rather be
encouraged to give of their best. A complaints desk could be established in the
Polytechnic to look into issues of victimization before they explode into serious
conflicts. Such an avenue will serve as an early warning system.
