Kenya is a country with many business organizations. As such, the most effective conflict management strategy should be employed during cross-cultural negotiations that may arise in a given specific company. The diversity of Kenya’s cultures makes it vulnerable to inter-cultural conflict and as a result, great precaution has to be taken in resolving conflicts to prevent escalation of the situation. In addition, historical injustices including the Shifta war, post-election violence, mile costal land strip among other community conflicts are some of the conflicts Kenya has experience over the past few years. According to Hu et al. (2017), the most effective way of handling conflicts in an atmosphere of inter-cultural animosity is through creative response. Creative responses are characterized by integrative bargaining, and both parties are encouraged to cooperate in a joint problem-solving. The strategy involves the development of new ideas, which are acceptable to both parties in the conflict. It is the best strategy when it comes to problem-solving during conflicts negotiations.
As a developing country, industry players needs a critical method in solving conflicts that mostly arise in business organizations. Problem-solving is a strong assertion of a person’s interests but with equal awareness which generates a search for creative ideas. This approach focusses on a suitable way to make things work (Hu et al., 2017). The aim of creative response strategy is identifying creative and workable solutions which satisfy the needs of Kenyan business organizations involved in the conflict.
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On the onset of creative response problem solving, members are encouraged to think without any preconceived notions and prejudice. With respect to its internal context, Kenya has had a number of issues which drive and influence conflicts. The dimension of community identities has been the key among them with communities like the Pokots and Marakwets fighting over land, livestock and borders. As such, Creative negotiation strategy would be able to look at all possibilities that would end the conflict then focus on what seems to work and expand on it. The Kenyan organizations involved in the conflict should then develop practical answers and work on them for resolutions of their conflicts (Kariuki, 2015). Most Kenyan organizations need a creative response as a strategy for solving their future conflicts in cross-cultural negotiations.
Most stakeholders running Kenyan businesses need to be sure that any negotiation strategy employed to solve conflicts may causes no harm to their business relationship. Creative response as a negotiation strategy will minimize the negative impact of the proliferation of the stakeholders’ groups involved (Pinkley et al., 2017). In this strategy, all the participants are granted equality and their contributions are valued. Business stakeholders will be convinced in achieving the most suitable outcomes through the elimination of power over resources shared. The negotiation style ensures that harmony remains between both involved groups and they will be able to continue doing businesses with each other.
Creative conflict resolution strategy helps stakeholders to focus on their interests by working through conflicts to reach a consensus. For Kenyan business stakeholders, creativity is the most suitable strategy particularly when the conflict has reached a contentious level; where the parties involved are uneasy with each other. This strategy also ensures that the stakeholders are working collaboratively to resolve the conflict (Hu et al., 2017). As such, a team spirit is created with stakeholders retaining a higher commitment on the issue leading to unity and harmony between the conflicting groups.
Through creativity, negotiators can understand their opponents’ interests as well. With a clear understanding of the best alternatives in negotiation, creativity helps to open doors for collaborative options that can lead to mutual gains rather than losses. Through a creative response negotiation strategy, the stakeholders can choose the most appropriate BATNA for them. A BATNA is a set of criteria reminding stakeholders what negotiated outcomes they find satisfactory (Pinkley et al., 2017). As such, the strategy not only helps the two conflicting parties come to terms, but it also brings satisfaction to the stakeholders through the creation of harmony and unity.
After the promulgation of the Kenyan Constitution in 2010, the country has been pushing for the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) techniques in the management of conflicts throughout the nation (Kariuki, 2015). As a promoter of a peaceful and just society, a creative response negotiation strategy is one of the ADR techniques that can be helpful in the negotiations of conflicts in many Kenyan business organizations. Through creative negotiations, institutions, policies, and relationships are at a better place in sustaining peace and harmony. In the end, there would be development and fairness for all without interfering with cultural, political and economic aspects of the country.
References
Hu, N., Chen, Z., Gu, J., Huang, S., & Liu, H. (2017). Conflict and creativity in inter-organizational teams: The moderating role of shared leadership. International Journal of Conflict Management , 28 (1), 74-102.
Kariuki, F. (2015). Conflict resolution by elders in Africa: Successes, challenges, and opportunities. Alternative Dispute Resolution , 3 (2), 30-53.
Pinkley, R. L., Conlon, D. E., Sawyer, J. E., Sleesman, D. J., Vandewalle, D., & Kuenzi, M. (2017). Unpacking BATNA Availability: How Probability Can Impact Power in Negotiation. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2017, No. 1, p. 16888). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.
