The Influence of Workplace Conflict on Staff Retention Case Study: International Medical Group

ABSTRACT: The study set out: “To establish the influence of Workplace Conflict on Staff Retention at the International Medical Group Limited. The sample respondent number was two hundred and five. The specific objectives were: To find out the level of employee-satisfaction as a pointer to staff retention; To establish the reasons why employees have left the workplace in the past five years; To find out the relationship between Staff Retention and Workplace Conflict and; To establish measures for improving staff retention. The research methodologies were: key informant interviews, questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and observation. Stratified sampling was employed. The results revealed clear and unique workplace and conflict links that pointed to the ways toward improving the workplace. The findings were aimed to ultimately minimise the influence of Workplace Conflict on Staff turnover at the workplace at the case study, and offered greater leeway for further investigation on the Workplace Conflict and Staff-Retention relationship. Key findings were: that there was a strong influence of workplace conflict on employee retention; the conflicting parties are mostly subordinate-superior dimension; employee intent to move on spells difficulties at the current workplace;. It was evident that no system or setup can be devoid of some sort of conflict; even at separation the workplace remained open to subtle disagreement; In conclusion therefore the workplace conflict can only be minimised or managed, but not ruled out altogether. In a final closure, the scope for further research was outlined.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page

One THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

Background of the Study 2

Statement of the Problem 5

Purpose of the Study 6

Research Objectives 6

Research Questions 6

Hypothesis 7

Scope 7

Significance of the Study 8

Operational Definitions of Key Terms 9

Two REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 11

Introduction 11

Concepts, Ideas, Opinions From Authors/Experts 12

Theoretical Perspectives 12

Related Studies 13

Three METHODOLOGY 24

Research Design 24

Research Population 25

Sample Size 26

Sampling Procedure 26

Research Instrument 26

Validity and Reliability of the Instrument 26

Data Gathering Procedures 26

Data Analysis 27

Ethical Considerations 27

Limitations of the Study 28

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

OF DATA 29

Five FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS 58

Findings 60

Conclusions 58

Recommendations 62

References 67

Appendices 71

Appendix I - Transmittal Letter 71

Appendix II - Clearance from Ethics Committee 72

Appendix III - Informed Consent 72

Appendix IV - Research Instrument 73

Researcher’s Curriculum Vitae 80