APPRAISAL OF INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT HANDLING STYLES IN THE SRI LANKAN PLANTATION SECTOR: AN APPLICATION OF THOMAS KILMANN CONFLICT MODE INSTRUMENT

Abstract

Plantation sector is one of prime earning sectors in Sri Lanka consisting tea, rubber and coconut, which provides prominent contribution to the economy of the country. Contending with other developing countries, it faces an array of challenges allied to the management of human relations which comprise both employees and their quality of work. Conflicts matter and occur frequently in this sector between workers and management as the sector upholds a large workforce of 0.2mn. Literature shows that higher worker involvement for strikes accountable for severe man-day loss and therefore, it is imperative to concern proper conflict handling approaches for the plantation sector to advance interpersonal relationships and productivity. Thus this study examines adoption of conflict handling styles in the plantation sector of Sri Lanka and their relationship with managerial characteristics; number of workers handled, work experience, salary, and age. Thomas Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument was utilized to recognize the conflict handling styles. Data were collected from managers of 23 plantation companies where these companies were categorized according to the number of workers based on stratified random sampling technique and with the aid of pre-tested questionnaire. Analysis was done using non-parametric Chi-square test and descriptive statistical methods. Results of the study reveal that Compromising was the enormously adopted conflict handling style among the plantation managers. There were significant associations between conflict handling styles and each managerial characteristic.

Key Words: Conflict Handling Styles, Plantation sector, Thomas Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument

For full paper: fmscresearch@sjp.ac.lk