Thesis (MPA.)--University of Limpopo, 2010 / Different studies have clearly defined conflict management but little is known as to whether inadequate conflict management skill is close relative of service delivery. This paper presents the aim and objectives of the study, summary of the methodology used, type of data collected, very brief description of the data analysis methods, summary of findings conclusion and recommendations. The aim of the study is to investigate problems affecting the implementation of conflict management strategies within the school situation as witnessed by the chaotic situation within the school. Hence the concern raised by the community on critical issues which motivate the school management team to improve their knowledge, skills and attitudes on managing conflict in the workplace. The type of data collected was both primary and secondary where people’s views were called upon to provide information on the phenomenon. The objectives of the study are to conduct research on the challenge of conflict management in Modipe High School, to examine the relationship between conflict management and service delivery, to assess the impact of conflict on service delivery and to contribute towards strategic solutions for more effective conflict management. Qualitative research methodology was applied using data collection techniques such as the interviews and questionnaires to draw information about the topic under investigation. Primary and secondary data was collected from interviews, questionnaires and literature review respectively. The data analysis methods that were employed include content and thematic analysis. This was followed by a brief summary. The study revealed that inadequate conflict management skills on service delivery can be caused by various actions, for example, unfair treatment of others, ignorance of work procedures, application of rules and regulations, and self-disciplined educators. To this end, it is recommended that if there is a difference of opinion, proper channel of communication should be followed through the union representatives and supervisors, until the complaints or needs reach the management unit for discussion and finalisation where possible, without disagreements.

The traditional procurement and contracting method within the architectural, engineering and construction industry is often criticised for its fragmented approach and its isolation of designers from contractor and Facilities Management(FM). However, adversarial relationships often occur among the project-team members due to disagreements relating to poor communication, processes, specifications, compliance, cost overruns and the extension of times. Therefore, the integration of FM’s specialists into early design development process comes with challenges, such as conflict between the design team and FM’s specialists over the specifications, local statutory compliance, commissioning method statements and the hand-over process. Furthermore, conflicts have critical effects on cost and schedule in complex projects and creates breakdown of relationships among project participants and results in project delays, claims and disputes. The Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to “to explore effective involvement of FM specialists in the early design-development process of complex building projects in South Africa is perceived to be causing conflicts between the multi-disciplinary professional design team members.” Design/methodology: Mixed methods was adopted for this study including extensive related literature review and pilot study. Purposive (8 interviews) and snowballing (102 participants) sampling techniques were used in data collection. Findings: According to descriptive analysis, participants slightly greed that FM specialists should be involved in the early stage of the design development process with mean score ranging from 3.21 (Inception stage) and 3.71 (Concept and Viability stage). Participants agreed that that FM specialists should be involved during design development stage with a mean score of 4.19 and project close out stage with a mean score of 4.29. Furthermore, from 41 causes of conflicts, 10 received mean scores ranging from 2.66 and 2.97 meaning that there is a low possibilities of causing conflicts while 31 variables received mean scores ranging from 3.00 to 3.97 meaning that there is a moderate possibilities of causing conflicts among FM specialists and design team during design development process. Research limitation/Implications: Potential participants are architects, engineers, project managers, property-development managers and facilities managers. Furthermore, the focus of the study is on medium and large complex projects with buildings systems. In addition, this Originality/Value: The high costs of maintenance during operation and non-compliance with the local statutory requirements of the building systems will affect the results and the application thereof. The integration of the design team and FM’s specialists will provide the client with the final product that is functional and safe to occupy and use for its intent. Furthermore, FM’s specialists’ involvement early in the design-development process would reduce operational and maintenance costs during the operational stage of the building; and they would further ensure that the facility complies with the local statutory requirements. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Construction Economics / MSc / Unrestricted

Thesis (MPA. (Industrial Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / In recent years, the South African government has put a lot of energy into the transformation of public sector departments. Effective leadership is a prerequisite in any effort to transform an organization. However, research findings indicate that there is a critical need to develop and train managers in the public sector to deal with numerous challenges in a fast changing world. They do not only need technical competencies but also soft skills to manage interpersonal relationships. This means that the public sector in South Africa needs to develop its leaders effectiveness in dealing with the human side of enterprises. Research in the first world countries on effective leadership behaviour has indicated the following: Firstly, leaders with high levels of emotional competence are more effective in interpersonal situations than those with low levels of emotional competence. Secondly, transformational leadership behaviour has a significant positive relationship with a leader s emotional competence. Lastly, a leader s conflict handling style is associated with his/her effectiveness as a leader. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between managers transformational leadership style effectiveness, their level of emotional competence (emotional expression and constructive discontent) and their conflict management skills within the public sector in South Africa. A survey design was employed to collect data. Questionnaires were completed by 126 managers in a public sector department in the Limpopo Province. The questionnaires included items to assess transformational leadership, emotional competence and conflict management skills, and also to siphon demographic information of the managers. Frequencies for demographic information were computed, as well as correlations for transformational leadership, emotional competencies and conflict management styles in order to test out hypotheses about the relationship between the variables of interest.Findings indicated that the majority of the respondents were Black males under the age group of 41-50, on job levels 11-12, with managerial experience of 1-5 years. The main findings of the study showed the following: (a) There is a very weak,significant positive relationship between transformational leadership and emotional expression, and a negative relationship between transformational leadership style and constructive discontent; (b) There is a relatively weak but significant positive relationship between the transformational leadership style and the constrictive conflict management skills (collaborating and compromising interpersonal conflict management styles); (c) There is a weak but significant negative relationship between the compromising interpersonal conflict management style and emotional expression, and a very weak, non-significant negative relationship between collaboration interpersonal conflict management style and emotional expression; and (d) There is a weak but significant negative relationship between the compromising interpersonal conflict management style and constructive discontent, but a very weak non-significant negative relationship between collaboration interpersonal conflict management style and constructive discontent. These findings led the researcher to believe that the respondents are neither transformational leaders nor emotionally competent, and thus could not either compromise or collaborate with others when they are in an interpersonal conflict situation. It is recommended that managers should be trained to develop their leadership, as well as emotional and conflict management competencies. Even though small sample size was used in this study, there results will be generalized to the whole South African population of public service managers. Further research study with different research methodology is recommended within other public sector departments and provinces within the country.

Promoting values of respect, understanding, empathy and developing in the students the necessary skills to be part of a peaceful and comprehensive society is one of the responsibilities of the educational system. This mission, in the context of the Swedish preschools, is also compatible with the characteristic use of the natural and outdoor environments of the Scandinavian countries as learning and experiential settings. The aim of this research paper is to study how the outdoor spaces can affect the understanding andthe resolution of conflicts between students in the preschool stage from the perspectiveof the teachers. Therefore, the main tool for the collection of the data were the semistructured interviews carried out with different educators from different Swedish preschools. Using thematic analysis as the designated qualitative approach to analyse thedata, different themes and sub-themes were addressed throughout the answers from theinterviews and organized based on 3 different sections: experience in outdoors, conflicts in the preschool, and the outdoors in the resolution of conflicts. The results presented the teachers’ experience regarding outdoor education; their understanding of the differenttypes of conflicts in the preschool stage; the role of the different parts involved, and themethods used to understand, manage, and deal with issues between the students; lastly, how the use of outdoor settings and its benefits can promote conflict-management skillsamong the students. Thus, the outdoor settings possess a beneficial effect on the social, emotional, and personal development of the children, these being key factors for the promotion of peaceful conflict-resolution strategies from an early stage.