CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES IN SELECTED PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTHWEST

This study examined the relationship between conflict management and the performance of academic employees in selected private universities in Southwest Nigeria. The increasing complexity of interpersonal and organizational interactions in higher education institutions has made effective conflict management essential for maintaining productivity, harmony, and institutional effectiveness. The study was guided by objectives that assessed the extent to which conflict management strategies influence academic staff performance. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from academic staff in selected private universities using a structured questionnaire. The study focused on key conflict management approaches such as collaboration, compromise, avoidance, accommodation, and competition, and how they relate to indicators of performance including teaching effectiveness, research output, administrative efficiency, and job commitment. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from the study revealed that effective conflict management practices have a significant positive influence on academic staff performance. In particular, collaborative and compromising strategies were found to enhance teamwork, reduce workplace tension, and improve overall productivity, while avoidance strategies tended to negatively affect performance outcomes. The study concluded that conflict management plays a critical role in shaping the work environment and performance levels of academic employees in private universities.