CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND PUBLIC POLICY IMPLEMENTATION: EVIDENCE FROM ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, NIGERIA

Conflict management is a critical determinant of effective public policy implementation, particularly within complex public institutions such as universities. This study examined the influence of conflict management strategies specifically compromise and collaboration on organizational performance, using the University of Calabar, Nigeria, as a case study within the broader framework of public policy and institutional governance. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, involving a census population of 133 academic administrators comprising 18 Deans/Provosts and 115 Heads of Departments drawn from 18 faculties and institutes. Data were collected through a validated four-point Likert-scale questionnaire, while reliability coefficients ranged from 0.81 to 0.85 using Cronbach’s Alpha. The study employed linear regression analysis at the 0.05 level of significance using SPSS Version 23 to test the hypotheses. The results revealed that compromise has a significant positive effect on organizational performance (β = 0.489, t = 7.408, p < 0.05), while collaboration also significantly predicts organizational performance (β = 0.433, t = 6.352, p < 0.05). These findings indicate that structured conflict management strategies play a vital role in enhancing administrative efficiency, decision-making effectiveness, and institutional performance within public universities. The study concludes that the integration of compromise and collaboration into conflict management frameworks strengthens the implementation of public policy in higher education institutions. It recommends that university administrators and policymakers institutionalize these strategies to promote sustainable organizational effectiveness and improved governance outcomes in public sector universities in Nigeria.