Potential Causes and Outcomes of Communication Conflicts at the Workplace -A Qualitative Study in Pakistan

Abstract

Occurring communication conflict among employees is a natural phenomenon at any workplace. However, for the effective resolution of these conflicts, it is indispensable to know the potential factors triggering these conflicts and making them destructive. This paper intends to investigate the causes, outcomes and the subsequent resolution of communication conflicts among employees at the workplace in the developing sector in Pakistan. The data for this qualitative study has gathered from library research and semi-structured interviews taken from the eighteen employees belonging to the three development organizations from the area of Peshawar and Islamabad in Pakistan. To derive sample for the study, a purposeful sampling technique has used. The analysis and transcription of the interview have made through following thematic techniques. The findings from this study reveal the poor communication, misunderstanding, and lack of other soft skills and traits as the significant causes of the communication conflicts while lacking of trust, stress, resignation and transferring are found to be potential outcomes. Some suggestions such as strong leadership and training of employees are also given for the effective resolution of these conflicts.