Exploring Conflict Management Strategies to Gain a Cohesive Team: A Theoretical Review of Deposit Money Banks in Port Harcourt

ABSTRACT: This paper seeks to review conflict management and team cohesiveness in deposit money banks in Port Harcourt. The researcher looked at the variables of the study through accommodation and cooperation strategy as dimensions with mutual trust and interdependency as measures. The study determined the relationship between the two variables and the outcome showed that: (i) conflict management strategies such as cooperation and accommodation promote team cohesiveness. (ii) The study found that conflict is a conscious act and essential as long as man interacts, however, with cooperation and accommodation strategy team members are inclined to work through their differences and develop a surprising unity of interest and purpose to validate their cohesive identity. Consequently, the study concluded that teams are different in their manner of interaction and perception that could lead to conflict but argue that individuals who make up groups are part of a dynamic living system that changes in response to their environment and people are not only affected by their own inner perception and reactions but they are also influenced by other external factors which could avert deviant behavior or aggravate it. Based on our conclusion recommendations were proffered.
Keywords: Conflict, Cooperation, Accommodation, Team Cohesiveness, Trust, Interdependence, and Diversity.