Conflict Management in Nigeria Construction Industries
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the study
- To know if conflicts can be resolved in Nigerian construction industries.
- To ascertain the relationship between conflict resolution and construction industries in Nigeria
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Conceptual Framework
Overview of the Nigerian Construction Industry
In spite of the huge capital outlay, public utilities are unable to cope with the demand of the increasing population of the country. Government’s budgetary allocation no longer meet demands hence the involvement of the private sector for the financing, development and Operation of infrastructure project. This is becoming common practice globally to allow for dwindling fiscal resources to be committed to other national development projects.
Capital outlays on infrastructure in the form of housing provisions and other infrastructure facilities are central to growth and development. More so in developing countries, such expenditures are necessary to create advancement in the technology and by extension industrialization obtainable in developed societies
Infrastructure play critical but not independent role in stimulating and sustaining economic growth. Kesside (1993) found that developed countries support the fact that infrastructure capital has a significant and positive effect on economic input. Further; she notes that developing countries need infrastructure, and more importantly the services that stem from their provision, so that they can achieve economic growth.
Unfortunately, developing countries have become associated with the stigma of poorly managed infrastructure with resultant cost implications. First are higher maintenance costs from many years of neglect, and then costs associated with the provision of alternative (temporal) infrastructure where there is complete in operation of the facilities. Facility failures have far reaching implications beyond this. For example the idle time for labor, yet they still have to be remunerated; there is also the cost of lost production, the associated goodwill and the revenue forfeited (Mehra, 1999).
Study of sixty developing countries, Bazin (1996) found that half the utilities in operation had very low rates of return and that several incurred losses. In Nigeria, performance during the construction phase fall short of expectation too. A critical appraisal of the performance of the construction sector brings to question its ability to support infrastructure development needs. Between 1996 and 2000, the building and the construction sector of the economy contributed only 0.85% to the nation GDP at current basic prices ; while between 2000 and 2004 the value fell to 0.78% (CBN annual reports 2006) whereas the relative contribution of the finance an insurance sector was 1.23% and 1.17% during these period respectively. The wide margin between the expected contribution of the construction industry and the actual contributions; are indication that something must be wrong somewhere even with our development efforts.
Concept of Conflict
Conflict is a necessary and useful part of organisational life. It is inevitable, multi-dimensional, and an integral part of the process of change. According to Mba (2013), there are two sides to conflict, one is destructive, defects cooperation and unhealthy and the other has a problemsolving base where those involved are willing to readdress personality differences, to listen to others‟ views and to be open and candid to each other, to be supportive and helpful. Managers spend a considerable portion of their time dealing with conflict and as such, conflict management becomes increasingly important to their effectiveness.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
In this chapter, we would describe how the study was carried out.
Research design
The study employs quantitative descriptive research design to examine conflict management in Nigeria construction industries.
CHAPTER FOUR
Data Presentation, analysis and Interpretation
Introduction
The chapter presents analyses and discusses the data collected for the study.
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
Summary
This work examines conflict management in Nigeria construction industries, a case study of Julius Berger construction industry, FCT Abuja, Nigeria. The nature of conflict in the construction industry is so complex that if not properly managed can reduce productivity or escalate to litigation, this is due to varieties of people involved in it execution. Hence, Nigeria is not an exemption due to diverse religion, ethnicity and tribes which makes conflict inevitable in the Nigerian construction industry. Two research objectives, questions and hypotheses were formulated to guide this work. Descriptive/survey research design were adopted and Chi-square method were used to determine the hypotheses formulated, the sample size obtain were 82 management staff of Julius Berger. The study recommends that the Julius Berger construction industry, should create an enabling environment where employees can openly communicate and discuss issues affecting them. In doing so, management should try as much as possible to find out mutually acceptable solutions to problems and implement any joint decision taken by putting the organizational goals as well as employees’ interest into consideration.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Based on the research hypotheses and the research objectives the conclusion was drawn that collaboration strategy in terms of finding out mutually acceptable solutions to problems or trying as much as possible to discuss all concerns openly especially during meetings that can resolve conflict in Nigeria construction industries, Abuja.
For the purpose of improving the performance of Julius Berger construction industry, both management and employees’ have shown that the adoption of a mid-way approach in deriving solutions to problems by both parties agreeing on the grounds that they both sacrifice a little, that is, give up some of their demands have not improved the performance of the organization. Also, the ability of management and employees to avoid issues that will cause division when the need arises have improved the performance of the organization.
In line with the above conclusion, the study recommends that the Julius Berger construction industry, should create an enabling environment where employees can openly communicate and discuss issues affecting them. In doing so, management should try as much as possible to find out mutually acceptable solutions to problems and implement any joint decision taken by putting the organizational goals as well as employees’ interest into consideration.
Also, given the significant level of avoidance strategy in improving the performance of Julius Berger construction industry, management and employees should try as much as possible to avoid any critical issues that will cause division in the organization. Such issues should be left alone to be discussed in the open during meetings. By so doing, it will help to remove tension in the working environment, thereby keeping it peaceful.
In a bid to improve the performance of the organization, management should not emphasize the adoption of compromise strategy on the management of critical issues such as employees’ welfare, this is because of the negative effect it has on the organization’s performance.
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