DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2018.v06i06.019

Pages: 1304-1308

Conflicts are an everyday phenomenon in organizations around the world. In higher education institutions, especially in Kenya, conflicts have become so rampant. Conflicts in these institutions can have a constructive or destructive effect that have a causal sequence on the productivity of employees and the institutions as a whole. The intent of any organisation should be to manage the conflict so that it is constructive for the organisation. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of collaborating conflict management strategy on employee productivity at the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology (RVIST). The target population consisted of 293 teaching and non-teaching employees out of which a sample of 166 participants was selected using the stratified random sampling method out which 134 were able to completed the study. Purposive sampling was used to sample managers who participated in the study. Quantitative and qualitative data was obtained from the participants using survey questionnaires and interviews respectively. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and the Pearson correlation test. Qualitative data was categorised into themes and presented in form of narratives and themes. Findings show that interpersonal and intergroup are the main types of conflict at the organization. Pearson correlation test showed that collaborating conflict management strategy had a significant and positive influence on employee productivity. The organization leadership should focus on addressing interpersonal and intergroup conflicts. To improve employee productivity, leaders at the institution should promote the use of collaborating strategy of managing conflict.