The Relationship between Workplace Conflicts and Job Satisfaction in the Public Sector in Serbia

Marko Pavlović; Biljana Stojanović-Višić; Marija Runić Ristić

doi:10.7595/management.fon.2021.0025

Marko Pavlović PE Post of Serbia, Belgrade
Biljana Stojanović-Višić Faculty of Engineering Management, Belgrade, Union – Nikola Tesla University
Marija Runić Ristić Faculty of Management, Sremski Karlovci, Union – Nikola Tesla University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7595/management.fon.2021.0025

Abstract

Research Question: This paper starts with the research question regarding the relationship between workplace conflicts and job satisfaction in the public sector in Serbia. Motivation: The main motivation for this research study was: to examine a compromising conflict resolution in the public sector in Serbia; to examine the frequency, causes, conflict resolution strategies and methods for their reduction and for improving work climate in the public sector in Serbia; to examine the job satisfaction in the public sector in Serbia; and to examine the relationship between workplace conflicts and job satisfaction in the public sector in Serbia. Idea: This research started with the intention to study job satisfaction or dissatisfaction and workplace conflicts in the public sector in Serbia in order to reach a more efficient and effective human resource management. Data: The research study was conducted from the beginning of March 2019 until the end of April 2019. The total sample size amounted to 300 respondents employed in the public sector in Serbia. Tools: Two scales have been used to gather data and conduct the research: the compromising conflict resolution scale and the job satisfaction survey scale. Findings: More than half of the respondents employed in the public sector in Serbia believe that conflicts in their workplace are not frequent, while less than half of them finds them frequent. This finding shows that opinions are divided regarding conflicts. As the main reason for conflicts, the respondents reported personal conflicts, organizational conflicts and communication conflicts. The best strategies to handle conflicts, according to the employees in the public sector in Serbia, are cooperation, competition and avoiding. At the same time, compromise occupies the bottom place according to its frequency occurrence. As regards the methods to lower the levels of conflict frequency and to improve the organizational climate, the employees in the public sector in Serbia emphasized better planning and division of work and more resources that a company has at its disposal. Regarding job satisfaction, these findings put employees in the category of ambivalent emotions. Contribution: The primary contribution of this paper is in its effort to lead to better human resource management in the public sector in Serbia due to the research study results.

Author Biographies

Marko Pavlović, PE Post of Serbia, Belgrade

Marko Pavlović is employed at the PE Post of Serbia in Belgrade. He obtained his PhD in 2021 at the Faculty of Business Studies and Law in Belgrade, Union – Nikola Tesla University. He has participated in several international conferences and has published scientific papers in journals recognized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. More than twenty scientific papers he authored have been published so far. He was elected and worked as a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management in Novi Sad, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, during three school years. The areas of his interest are: management, human resources management, banking and customer relations.

Biljana Stojanović-Višić, Faculty of Engineering Management, Belgrade, Union – Nikola Tesla University

Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering Management in Belgrade, Union – Nikola Tesla University, and Independent Associate at the PE Post of Serbia in Belgrade. She is a member of the International Paneuropean Union based in Strasbourg, and as a delegate from Serbia participated in numerous conferences throughout Europe, attended by senior European officials. She is a member of the Association of Business Women and Entrepreneurs of Serbia. The main areas of her academic interest are: European integration, Serbia’s accession to the EU, socially responsible business and business communication. She obtained her PhD in 2016 at the Faculty of Business Studies in Belgrade, Megatrend University. She defended her master thesis in 2008 at the Faculty of Management in Zaječar, Megatrend University, where she completed her basic studies in 2004. She graduated from the ICT College of Vocational Studies, University of Belgrade, in 2002. She also completed the course of diplomatic protocol at the Instituto Europeo Campus Stellae.

Marija Runić Ristić, Faculty of Management, Sremski Karlovci, Union – Nikola Tesla University

Assistant Professor at Faculty of Management in Sremski Karlovci, Union – Nikola Tesla University. She received her PhD from the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad. Between 2015 and 2018, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the College of Business and Administration, American University in the Emirates Dubai, UAE. For more than 10 years she has been an active researcher supervising numerous graduate and undergraduate theses and projects. She is the author of numerous conference papers and journal articles on human resource management and management issues ranging from employment relations, organizational behaviour, ethical behaviour and corporate best practices.