Conflict Management in the Non-profit Sphere. Mapping the Conflict Management Practices of an Organization Providing Social Services Cover Image

Konfliktuskezelés a nonprofit szférában. Egy szociális szolgáltatásokat nyújtó szervezet konfliktuskezelési gyakorlatának feltérképezése
Conflict Management in the Non-profit Sphere. Mapping the Conflict Management Practices of an Organization Providing Social Services

Author(s): Borbála Péntek
Subject(s): Civil Society, Organizational Psychology, Management and complex organizations, Human Resources in Economy
Published by: Presa Universitara Clujeana
Keywords: conflict; human resources; decision-making; performance; consequences; employee perspective;

Summary/Abstract: The present study, which focuses on conflict analysis and management, examines the causes and types of major conflicts in social service organizations through semi-structured interviews. Through indepth interviews with ten employees at a Romanian nonprofit organization’s headquarters and by consulting on studies of key challenges of Romanian NGOs, I sought to find answers to how workplace conflicts affect nonprofits, how employees handle disagreements, and what types of conflicts are most common among employees of civil society organizations. In-depth interviews were conducted with four executives, two coordinators, and four members of the executive teams within the organization. Based on these interviews, it was revealed that the roots of the conflicts lie in the overload of bureaucratic tasks in the human resource department, the lack of motivation in the workplace and the lack of transparency of institutional decisions. These problems are most likely caused by the lack of resources in non-profit organizations in Romania. At the same time, despite the uncertainty, financial burden and bureaucracy related to the implementation of funding projects, the activities affecting the target groups are successful and based on the feedback of the employees, the reactions of the target groups are a great motivating force.

  • Issue Year: 18/2020
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 37-49
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Hungarian