Conflict management in a school organization: Historical development and resolution of conflict in a socially oriented school

• Main Author: Covarrubias, Mary Ann M.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1995
• Subjects: Conflict management; School management and organization; St Scholastica's College, Manila; Universities and colleges > Planning; Educational planning; Educational Leadership
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/750
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study provides a case analysis of a strike as a form of organizational conflict in an educational institutionThe historical-descriptive study, which primarily used documentary analysis, was employed. It analyzed both the development of an actual strike, and the distinguishing characteristics of St. Scholastica's College-Manila as a socially-oriented school. The school's philosophical, economic, social, and physical structures were examined to show that the school was really a socially-oriented school. The factors and events that led to the conflict between management, faculty, and staff were identified. The analyses looked into (1) the key features of the conflict and the strategies adopted by the parties involved to resolve the conflict (2) the management's use of the game theory and legal process (3) the strategies employed by the management in the aftermath of the strike and, (4) how management strategies sustained the vision and thrust of a socially-oriented school.The official school records studied and analyzed were: (1) the mission statement, objectives and policies (2) the income, salary scheme and, economic benefits (3) statistics on employment and enrollment (4) the facilities and physical plant in general and, (5) the demographic data on students and employees, social network and services.A questionnaire was formulated and the questions were classified. The questions were classified under five general headings. The five areas established the respondent's background, experience and behavior, opinions and values, emotional responses, and knowledge in relation to the strike and events prior to, during and after the strike. The study generated the following conclusions:1) St. Scholastica's College's philosophical, economic and physical and social structures indicate that the values it espouses are the values of social orientedness.2) The conflict interactions -- individual, group and organizational, constituted and was sustained by the behaviors of both the Samahan and Management and their reactions to one another.3) The factors of conflict in this study were influenced by the individual's concepts of important goals and needs. It showed that both the Union and Management had incompatible goals and that they see each other as the source of interference in achieving these goals.4) The conflict in the College showed the interdependence between the Union and Management. For the behavior of one or both parties had consequences for the other and therefore, both or either party potentially aided or interfered with the other.5) The conflict strategies employed by Management in this study -- before, during and after the strike, were congruent to its being a socially-oriented school.This study showed how St. Scholastica's social orientation was sustained throughout and beyond situation of conflict. In this regard, the study examined the conflict management strategies adopted by the Management in order to establish the importance of the game theory and legal process in conflict management.