Title: Professional conflicts in public institutions: antecedents, effects and management - a case of Ghana

Authors: Kofi Amponsah-Kwatiah; Michael Asiamah

Addresses: Estate Office – Corporate Management and Services Department, Bank of Ghana, Ghana ' Management Control and Research Consult Limited, P.O. Box AT 109 New Achimota, Accra, Ghana

Abstract: This study examined the causes, effects and management of professional conflicts in Ghanaian public institutions. It used factor analysis to achieve the study's objective based on total of 195 respondents from ten public institutions. The study revealed that the main antecedents of professional conflicts are competition for position, power or recognition, differences in knowledge, beliefs or basic values and lack of complete freedom for subordinates to solve problems. It further revealed effects on employees as reduction in communication, lack of interest in work schedule, delays and frustrations in decision-making processes, job dissatisfaction, work anxiety, estrangement and creation of many deadlocks. Also, strategies for managing professional conflicts include compromising, bargaining, use of power and dominance. The paper recommends that management of public institutions must adhere to proper conflict management measures to solve professional conflicts.

Keywords: professional conflicts; causes; effects; management; public institutions; factor analysis; Ghana.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMD.2022.130928

International Journal of Management Development, 2022 Vol.2 No.3, pp.167 - 184

Received: 21 Jun 2021
Accepted: 26 Nov 2021
Published online: 14 May 2023 *

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