Workplace conflicts in district assemblies in Ghana

Abstract

The study focuses on assessing workplace conflicts in the District Assemblies in Ghana through literature review and quantitative analysis of primary data. The study seeks to bring to fore the need for managers of District Assemblies and by extension other Public Institutions to identify early warning signs or prevalence of workplace conflict, the undercurrent issues, appreciation of the consequences and where appropriate, managing it expeditiously. The study indicates that management style is a key factor determining high and low points of a destructive workplace conflict in an organisation, although not a grounded theory. It therefore specifically identifies personality clashes and warring egos as well as poor management as critical and complex factors affecting levels of destructive conflict in organization; gender differences also cause conflict when accompanied by disrespect but might not necessarily be problematic. The paper therefore recommends the pragmatic measures of improving management of workplace conflict and other grey areas of possible further research in the subject area.