The conflict management styles of the administrators who are employed in industrial vocational high schools: Example of Ankara province

The objective of the research to determine the conflicts that emerge in Industrial Vocational High Schools in Ankara and the observe the approach which the school administrators apply for their solution. Therefore it is qualified as a qualitative study as for its essence. Semi-structure interview method is used for data collection. The study group of the research comprise to 74 administrators who are employed in the Industrial Vocational High Schools that are located in Ankara which report to the Ministry of National Education. Totally 7 questions are asked to the school directors in order to observe their opinion after having taken the opinion of the specialists persons. The research questions are analyzed by using content analysis method. The below mentioned results are obtained after the interviewing of the subjects: • It is observed that the frequency of conflicts occurred between intra-group, inter-individuals and inter-group conflicts according to their sequence from more frequent to less frequent as for their occurrence respectively. The most frequent conflicts occurred among the students within the same group, between the student and teacher among the individuals and between the administrators and teacher as for groups. As for the frequency of conflicts it is mentioned that they have often occurred among the students, student-teacher and teacher-administrator. • The subjects that led to conflict in Industrial Vocational High Schools appeared to be primarily the course program, shifts, boy-girl friendship relations, behavioral disorders and their problems, discipline, obedience/disobedience to rules, benefits and interests and adolescence problem, they are followed by classroom administration problems, satisfaction, distribution of duties, idea discrepancies and difference, district group formations, reports and permits, methods of applying the course with respect to their frequency. Apart from them, conflicts occur in schools gang formation, joint examinations, issues regarding legislation, regulations difference and grades as ranked above according to the frequency of their occurrence. • Among the reasons leading to conflict are problems of communication, low educational and economic status, personality conflict, lack of tolerance, differences in value judgments and beliefs, organizational change and development are those that are most frequently seen. Apart from the reasons that are mentioned above, the lack of interest in the students towards their courses and social environment, irresponsible behaviors and inability to perform academic duties, lack of respect, undisciplined conduct, efforts to prove oneself, problems occurring because of separated families and misunderstand the expectations. When conflict events are perceived on the side of teachers and administrators, the stress for reason of intensive works, benefit problems, competition because of monetary issues, reasons emerging from the occupation and culture teaching, vague points in distribution of authorities and responsibilities. Resource distribution problems, and differences in the administrations are among the most important factors leading to conflict in industrial vocational high schools. • The consequences of the conflict are defined in the study as for the individual and organizations both in their positive and negation aspects, and according to the opinions of the administrators in Industrial Vocational High School the conflicts have both negative and positive consequences.  The positive results of the conflicts can be listed as: individual development, psychological maturation, development of efficiency and productivity, and development of better and improved relations. Its positive consequences as for the organization is the emergence of new ideas, the finding of their solutions, organizational change, team work, awareness about the solution of the problem, and the definition of the problem.  The negative results of the conflicts on the part of the individuals are the resentment and offence medium, unrest, disturbance, uneasiness, detrimental effects on job satisfaction, the decrease of dialogue and communication. Its negative aspects on the part of the organization are is the formation of a negative social environment, decrease in the feelings of dedication and belongingness towards the organization and a chaos social environment. • According to the findings that are obtained from this research are the methods and styles which the administrators adopt for finding solutions to conflicts in vocational industrial high schools are integration, reconciliation and reciprocal and mutual compromise methods, sometimes domineering and aggressive responses and sometimes becoming recessive and aversive. • The proposals of the school administrators in order to decrease occurrence of conflicts in Industrial Vocational High Schools are can be grouped under headings of human relations, organizational structure, education, democratic approach, and polities and economy related issues. Since conflicts are an indispensable part of the life it is also a part of the life in Industrial Vocational High Schools as well. School administrators should manage conflicts to further contribute to school objectives with the awareness that it is an indispensable aspect of living. Key Words: Conflict, Conflict Management, Conflict in Vocational High Schools.