Factors Causing Line and Staff Conflicts Regarding HR Roles: Evidence from Bangladesh

Organizational conflict is an issue of concern all over the world. This paper aims at identifying the factors that cause conflict between line and staff regarding HR roles in the enterprises of Bangladesh. A list of factors responsible for the conflict between these groups were identified from the literature review, and the factors were discussed and proliferated by Focus Group Discussion (FGD). FGD was also used to structure and validate an inventory titled “Causes of Line and Staff Conflict” which was administered over 150 respondents based on the incidental sample technique for data reduction. Finally, this study found that four components such as organizational structure and environment, individual differences, internal dynamics and external forces are responsible for line and staff conflict for HR roles. The study found it rational for an effective HR practice that there is a proper distribution of power through an effective design of organization structure, regular orientation, informal meeting, HR seminar, HR counseling and consultancy provided and maintained by the organization, and these will minimize conflicts between line and staff regarding HR roles.