The Perceptions of Conflict on Strategic Planning in Higher Education Administration

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2010-08

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Abstract

As is true in most organizations, conflict is not absent in the higher education milieu. On the contrary, “as in the case with all complex organizations, educational systems manufacture the ingredients of conflict and stress” (Hanson, 2003, p.251). The purpose of this study is to determine how the presence of conflict affects the strategic planning processes performed by respective administrators in higher education and specifically how functional and dysfunctional conflict affect their key decision making processes. By placing this context alongside the strategic planning process, stressors become even more apparent and the inevitability of conflict becomes plain. Dominant to higher education and its functionality is the strategic planning process. This practice, loaded with controversy and individual agenda, can and will generate conflict. However, foundational to higher education is the creation of an atmosphere in which diversity of opinion is prevalent and appropriate. Through this diversity is the overwhelming temptation for argumentation. Conflict of ideologies, theories, and perspectives are certainly a vital portion of higher education; however, when the line between academic incongruity is crossed and the participants enter into personal assault, conflict becomes increasingly dysfunctional and counterproductive (Bolman & Deal, 2003; Socci, 2002). Complexity exists when the administrator is faced with a tactical decision to be made, and yet faces conflict without a clear, concise, and complete understanding of the functionality and/or dysfunctionality of that contradictory process. There are several conclusions that were made based on this research in regards to the perceptions of administrators regarding conflict and strategic planning. First, conflict is inevitable in strategic planning. Secondly, functional conflict aides in the strategic planning process. Finally, dysfunctional conflict has the potential of destroying effective strategic planning processes.

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