Pengurusan Konflik Dan Ciri Kepimpinan Di Kalangan Pengawas Sekolah Menengah Negeri Kedah

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between leadership and styles of managing conflict among school prefects in the district of Kubang Pasu, Kedah. Seven secondary schools with 223 respondents served as the unit of analysis for the data generated. The items for leadership traits are built based on the cluster of autocratic, democratic and laissez faire as introduced by leadership scholars, and was modified into leadership based on task (task oriented), based on relationship (relationship oriented), and passive. As for styles of managing conflict, Kilmann-Thomas Model (1974, 1975, 1977) was based upon. Data were analysed using SPSS 7.5. The hipothesis were then tested using T-Test and One Way ANOVA. From the test done, it is obvious that there is no significant difference between all the demographic factors and leadership. A significant finding is detected between gender and styles of managing conflict. The important finding of the study is the significant relationship between leadership and styles of managing conflict. In detail, relationship-oriented leadership has a significant correlation with all the five styles of managing conflict. Thus, the finding implied that leadership training could serve as a tool for upgrading the skill of managing
conflict, vice versa. It is high time that the role of school prefects is defined in a meaningful perspective in such a way that could help minimize the violence and discipline problems in schools. The connotation of the study is that such a program which could nurture the skill of leadership as well as enhancing the ability of managing interpersonal and intrapersonal conflict among students,
generally and school prefects, especially, should be carried out and implemented without delay. The findings of the study are generalizable to the Education District Of Kubang Pasu but the framework may be replicated for
further research.