Evaluating the management styles of intergroup conflicts in the ivory towers: a comparative analysis of selected southwestern universities in Nigeria.

Abstract

This study examined intergroup conflicts in selected universities in Southwestern Nigeria. This was with a view to evaluate management strategies adopted by university administration in resolving intergroup conflicts using ownership of institution as a critical variable in exploring these management styles.The study utilized primary and secondary data. Six universities consisting of two each of federal, state and private were purposively selected for the study, namely: Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Lagos State University, Ojoo, University of Ado-Ekiti,Ekiti, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo and Covenant University, Ota. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis of quantitative data, while content analysis technique was used for the qualitative data. Regarding their use of intergroup conflict management style, there was no significant difference across universities in their use of structural strategy (F=0.25, P>0.05). There was however variation among them in their use of communication strategy (F=12.79, P<0.05), process strategy (F = 37.56, P<0.05) and formal dispute style (F=8.96, P <0.05). The study showed that State universities adopted more than others, the, process and communication strategies, while the private Universities employed the use of structural strategy. The Federal Universities were more disposed to the use of formal dispute strategy. The study concluded in the selected universities, strategies engaged by university administrators differed significantly across universities based on the form of ownership.

IFE PsychologIA Vol. 15 (2) 2007: pp. 103-123