Workplace Conflict in the Penitentiary Administration: The Case of Buea Central Prison

Conflict is an inherent and ubiquitous aspect of organizational dynamics, rendering its effective management an indispensable component of a manager's role. Workplace conflicts have been on the rise most especially amongst staff in the penitentiary sector. Thus, this research aims to examine the effects of workplace conflict on staff performance and to assess the steps in managing workplace conflict in Buea central prison. The paper is guided by the Attribution Theory. The paper adopts a qualitative research approach with the use of interview guide for data collection. Using a cluster sampling technique, a total of 20 respondents were randomly selected to participate in the research, mainly from the penitentiary sector at the Buea Central Prison. Findings from this study reveal that workplace conflict has deleterious effects on the penitentiary environment, including heightened insecurity and tension, increased absenteeism, and abandonment of duty. Conversely, the study highlights the importance of effective conflict management strategies, including promoting open communication, acknowledging conflict issues, maintaining transparency, and establishing organizational guidelines. Ultimately, this research underscores the inevitability of conflict in organizational settings, stemming from divergent opinions, interests, and needs among employees. By acknowledging conflict as an inherent aspect of human nature, organizations can proactively develop effective management strategies, thereby transforming conflict into a constructive force that fosters growth and improvement.