Review

Is organizational conflict healthy for the growth of an organization?

Anthony Igbokwe Ph.D

Department of Business Administration, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria

E-mail: tonychidi@yahoo.com

Accepted January 20, 2014

Abstract

The study examines the impact of organizational conflict on performance of the organization, with the objective to ascertain whether organizational conflict is healthy for the growth and development or not. Secondary data was used as a source of data collection. The study concludes that organizational conflict is not entirely bad for an organization but rather help to stimulate innovativeness and good decision making among employees. It therefore recommends that managers should develop diverse but appropriate strategies to resolve and manage conflicts as they arise before escalating to unmanageable level. Also, efforts should be made by managers to occasionally stimulate conflict by encouraging divergent views and rewarding staff and department for outstanding performance.

Keywords: Organizational conflict, Innovativeness, Productivity, Growth.