CAUSES OF CONFLICTS
DEFINITION
Conflict is any form of variation of goals, interests, or urgencies between individuals, groups, or organizations. Conflicts often emerge from differences of beliefs perception and interests. It is important to understand what causes conflicts to erupt to provide solutions.
Osei-Kyei, R., Chan, A. P., Yu, Y., Chen, C., & Dansoh, A. (2019). Root causes of conflict and conflict resolution mechanisms in public-private partnerships: Comparative study between Ghana and China. Cities, 87, 185-195.
SUMMARY
In public and Private partnership, conflict is unavoidable this due to the multiplicity and long -term contract of shareholders with different interests and beliefs. This study aims to evaluate and explore the causes of conflicts in Public and Private partnership between two counties that is Ghana and China. The findings of the root cause in this paper are geared at assisting at minimizing the conflicts that have occurred hence ensuring a smooth process in the partnership.
Suitable resolutions were also derived from the two countries to assist in solving the causes of conflicts. Contract agreement and poor governance in Ghana were the most prevalent causes of conflict while China showed that the main cause of conflicts in China was communication and poor risk assessment. Osei-Kyei, Chan, Yu, Chen & Dansoh (2019) found out that Arbitration and Negotiation were the best resolving strategies in Gnana and China would employ. The study will be important since the information that was gathered will be used by International investors in solving disputes as well as helping investors to develop a strategic plan before agreeing.
Robert Osei Kyei, BSc (Hons), PhD, Lecturer, and Academic Course Advisor – Construction Management, Western Sydney University. He has authored one paper based on conflicts.
Albert Chan
Chair Professor of Construction Engineering and Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University he has authored one paper in conflict management.
Ayirebi Danson
Senior Lecturer in Construction Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Ghana. He has authored one paper in causes of conflict
ANALYSIS
The study emphasizes the need of identifying the root cause of conflicts which is in agreement with our reading about the causes. The paper tries to bring a connection between two countries that were experiencing huge problems in the construction industry. Even if construction projects are susceptible to constant conflicts the more susceptible projects are those related to the public-private partnership. The legal arrangements and the stakeholders who have several beliefs and interests make these projects prone to conflicts. Our weekly readings show how conflicts could cause the failure and distress of the projects. There exist various categories of causes of conflicts these are ecological resources, quality of life, and human use. Conflicting resources is where the staff members or employees of the company rely on office supplies, accessing resources, and the staff room to work effectively. This is also in accordance with the findings of Osei-Kyei, Chan, Yu, Chen & Dansoh (2019)where employees in the construction industries relied on these resources for effective operations and when they need the access they readily get but the problem arises when it is not possible to access the construction resources.
This will lead to conflicts. The study also found out that unfair behavior and treatment of workers was a possible cause of conflicts. This is also in line with our readings on conflicting styles were a cause of conflict. Workers cannot work the same in the same organization. Timekeeping and communication are common methods in any company. The effectiveness of operations is realized when employees are allowed to work in their style. If the perceptions are different conflicts will suddenly occur. Lack of participation and consultations by management to the employees was a leading cause of conflicts. Policies that have been developed are not communicated to all parties involved and are also a cause that leads to conflict. This is also evident in the article where the Chinese investors are not informed of changes in tariffs. The article also provides solutions to the causes of conflicts which include arbitration and negotiation.
Reference
Osei-Kyei, R., Chan, A. P., Yu, Y., Chen, C., & Dansoh, A. (2019). Root causes of conflict and conflict resolution mechanisms in public-private partnerships: Comparative study between Ghana and China. Cities, 87, 185-195.