Conflict is very often perceived as a negative issue to contend with in organisations. especially in the Maltese context. Malta is also a European Union Member State with a great influx of foreign workers as unemployment is only at 3%. For this reason, which came about in the last decade, examining conflict has become a relevant issue also because of the cultural issues and possible misunderstandings that foreign workers might bring about in organisations. Although conflict, at times, can be constructive, more often than not it may be also destructive. Resolving or managing conflict effectively requires implementing strategies that promote cooperation, inclusion and understanding. Using the concepts of Thematic Analysis, ChatGPT Version 4.0 was used to elicit themes from 41 individual, semi-structured interviews carried out with subordinates working in the Maltese industry. With regards to the management’s role, two prominent themes were elicited; namely ‘Proactivity versus Reactivity in Conflict Resolution’ and ‘Perceived Bias and Favouritism’. This paper aims to outline the innovative methodology used to elicit these themes and to discuss them within the context of a small island state which is increasingly becoming more diverse and cosmopolitan. It also aims to critically analyse these themes using existing literature and to propose ways in which conflict can be dealt with in a more effective manner.
