Establish conflict causes
1. Assessment tools for both primary and secondary data sources
Sources of data are where you get information in regards to a specific subject e.g. establishing causes of conflicts. Primary data is where you get information that is first hand e.g. one on one interviews, questionnaires etc. while secondary data is the one you source from an archive e.g. journals, newspapers, textbooks, internet etc. The assessment tools in data sources are methods and apparatus for conducting conflict management (Clark, Baker, Rhosel 2006). The assessment tools in conflict management are developed in the following way:
i. Analysing the underlying cause of conflict: This by assessing the origin and underlying causes of conflict, highlights the linkages between the factors that lead to conflict arising.
ii. Analysing issues that give rise to conflict: It adds to the activities that help identify underlying causes of conflict by providing an additional level of analysis as it identifies boundaries and key issues.
iii. Analysing stake holders‟ rights, responsibilities returns and relationships.
These tools are important in conflict management because:
They help the management team to understand the causes of the conflicts
Offer mediation as one of the conflict resolving method that helps to bring the conflicting parties together and wave a one on one conversation
In community conflict, use of interviews and mediation helps the parties to understand how to end the problem.
The assessment tools enable the management team to keep record of what was the cause of conflict and the agreement that was reached to solve the problem
Conflicts can be caused by different things in the community. They include:
Political difference: Is the cause of conflict where people have different opinions towards the kind of leadership in place and the leadership in style. Having different ideas and opinions causes some community members get interest to hold different positions in the community.
Economical difference: In a community people have different sources of income and lifestyle. This causes conflict because people are after being on the higher level than they can manage leading to corruption and behavioural misconduct.
Social status: Having different categories of individuals with different social status in education, career, leadership positions causes some people to look down on others and that creates conflict.
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Technology: It is a growing and ever changing state in the community. While some members of the community are well informed, others are still using the out dated means of communication. This causes conflict because of some members not being updated with information or delayed communication.
Ethical issues: People have different beliefs, cultural practices and ways of doing things. These differences at times causes conflict among community members.
Legal: The process of solving issues. Communities have different levels of legal services while others are still using barazas and others go to court. Some cases may need more professional persons to manage the conflict where professionalism is absent, decisions arrived at may be biased