SOCIO-CULTURAL DIFFERENCE BECOMING INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT AND HOW TO RESOLVE IT

-

As a chief engineer to run the ship with minimum interpersonal conflict is a big challenge. As we all know every individual has its own attitude and perception towards the world and the people living with him in the society. Ship is like a society in which people from different socio-culture background work and lives together.
CULTURE:- Culture is a system of values, beliefs, assumptions, and norms shared among a group of people. The group can be a country, religion, profession, organization or even a generation.
SOCIO CULTURAL DIFFERENCE BECOMING INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT
Major merchant ships trade internationally and have multinational crew on board. Thus the environment on ship is mostly multicultural. Crew from different culture and different social background have different beliefs, values, attitudes and perception. The culture within which a person is brought up is very important determinant of behaviour of a person. The personality of an individual to a marked extent is determined by the culture in which he is brought up. Each culture expects and trains its members to behave in the ways that are acceptable to the group. So, this type of environment where people work from different socio- cultural background, may create problems. Being social animal, individuals have to interact with each other in day to day activities. Given, the differences in beliefs, values, attitudes and needs, chances of interpersonal conflicts are always there.
THREATS OF INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT:-
These perceived differences may seriously hamper not only the interpersonal relationship but also the efficient running of the vessel. Interpersonal conflicts create an unhealthy atmosphere on board and lower morale, thereby affecting productivity and safety. Interpersonal conflict creates an unhealthy atmosphere on board and due to increasing workload people tend to lose their piece of mind. This in turn results in reduction of concentration which may lead to an accident on board, hence a safety hazard.
HOW INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT SHOULD BE RESOLVED ON BOARD:-
Interpersonal conflicts should be resolved by taking into consideration the nature of differences between the parties in conflict. An amicable solution could be found by accepting differences without conflict. Measures should be taken to develop a co-operative relationship based on job related performances rather than communal/ racial basis. This will motivate people to work as a team. A bias free approach must be taken and individuals must be respected for their skills and efforts, irrespective of their socio- cultural background. A common language must be used for communication. The key dimension of diversity management is to maintain the two dimensions of unity and diversity in balance. Encourage healthy competition to motivate personnel at the same time carrying out team building exercises.
Basically there is no thumb rule/ formula to resolve conflict and one should go by own judgement and experience. Adopt strategies based on facts and not on prejudices, to achieve trouble free peaceful relationships, which would yield positive result.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CRITICAL EQUIPMENT AND OPERATION UNDER ISM CODE.

-
Critical equipments are equipments whose failure will lead to a potential hazardous situation or an accident, thereby causing injury to personnel or loss of life or damage to marine environment or property. This causes deviation or failure of the ISM objective 1.2.2 of ISM code. PROVISION IN ISM :- Element 10.3 of ISM code states----      The company should establish procedures in its safety management system to identify equipment and technical system, the sudden operational failure of which may result in hazardous situation. The SMS should provide for specific measures aimed at promoting the reliability of such equipment or systems. These measures should include the regular testing of standby arrangement or equipment or technical systems that are not in continuous use.      Hence SMS must have with respect to the critical equipment have procedures:- 1) To identify them 2) To ensure their test and functional reliability 3) To establish and use the alternative arrangements on
Read more

Various codes of PSC inspection and how to present to PSCO in case IOPP equipment is not working

-
Following are the various codes which are used to represent Action to be taken by vessel against the deficiency reported:- Deficiency Action Codes 10 deficiency rectified 15 rectify deficiency at next port 16 rectify deficiency within 14 days 17 rectify deficiency before departure 18 rectify deficiency within 3 months  30 detainable deficiency 99 other (specify) Note: For ISM deficiencies, only code 10, 18 and 30 can be used. Restrictions on Updating Codes Both codes 15 and 16 can only be updated to code 10. Code 17 can only be updated to code 10, 15, 16 and 99. Code 18 can only be updated to code 10. Code 30 can only be updated to: - code 10 or 18 (ISM def.) - code 10 or 99 (non - ISM def.) Code 18 can only be updated to code 10. We will discuss one case where 15 ppm equipment has started malfunctioning just before the arrival of the port. After investigating it was found that the  coalescer filter has become very dirty and because of this th
Read more

CLEAR GROUND FOR DETAILED INSPECTION DURING PSC INSPECTION

-
CLEAR GROUNDS:- Evidence that the ship, its equipment or its crew does not correspond substantially with requirement of relevant convention or that the master or crew members are not familiar with essential shipboard procedures relating to the safety of ship or prevention of pollution.     Clear grounds to conduct a more detailed inspection include:- 1) The absence of principal equipment or arrangements required by convention :- e.g. MARPOL annex 1 requires that ship above 400 GRT and above must have an OWS with automatically stopping device, if effluent exceeds 15 ppm. Absence of this principal equipment will lead to detention. 2) Evidence from a review of the ship's certificate that it is clearly invalid: - e.g. Safety equipment certificate found invalid since no renewal survey was carried out. 3) Evidence that the ship's logs, manuals or other required documentation are not on board, are not maintained or falsely maintained:- e.g. ORB part 1 not present on board or in
Read more