Exploring the Role of Culture in Communication Conflicts: A Qualitative Study

Authors

Sadia Deep, University Tun Hussein Onn MalaysiaFollow
Berhannudin Mohd Salleh, University Tun Hussein Onn MalaysiaFollow
Hussain Othman, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn MalaysiaFollow

Abstract

This research article as a part of larger study intends to explore the role of culture in triggering communication conflicts among employees at the workplace. It also explores the role of Problem-based learning in resolving these culture based conflicts. Being a part of human life, conflict is a pervasive aspect of the socio-cultural and professional environment, especially at the workplace. The role of culture has one of the aspects that have played a pivotal role in initiating conflicts in the past. Using a qualitative research approach, this descriptive phenomenology study gathered data from semi-structured interviews from eighteen selected employees belonging to three development organizations in Pakistan. The research used a purposeful sampling to derive sample for the study. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed through thematic content analysis. The findings from this study reveal that different aspects of culture have a significant role in triggering communication conflicts among employees. The respondents, however, suggested that culture-based conflict could be reduced and tackled effectively through the training of employees on PBL approach which bring together people of diverse cultures on one table.

Keywords

Culture, Communication Conflicts, Workplace

Author Bio(s)

Sadia Deep is a Postgraduate student in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. Her research interest is in communication conflicts among employees and PBL approach in skill development. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: gw140032@siswa.uthm.edu.my.

Berhannudin Mohd Salleh is an Associate Professor at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. He holds a Ph.D. in TESL (UTM, Malaysia) and is a Principal Trainer for Master Trainers in Problem-Based Learning for the Leadership Academy of the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia (AKEPT). Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: berhan@uthm.edu.my.

Hussain Othman is an Associate Professor at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. He holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Civilization (ISTAC, UIAM, Malaysia) is also a Principal Trainer for Master Trainers in Problem-Based Learning for the Leadership Academy of the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia (AKEPT). Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: hussain@uthm.edu.my.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the three developing organization of Pakistan for this study. The authors appreciate the logistic and human resource support for their employees’ trainings and subsequent interviews.

Publication Date

4-23-2017

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2612

Recommended APA Citation

Deep, S., Salleh, B. M., & Othman, H. (2017). Exploring the Role of Culture in Communication Conflicts: A Qualitative Study. The Qualitative Report, 22(4), 1186-1198. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2612