Bhana, AnrushaSuknunan, SachinBayat, Mohammed Shaheed2022-10-062022-10-062022-09-01Bhana, A., Suknunan, S. and Bayat, M.S. 2022. Role-modelling, decision-making and conflict resolution: impact of leadership and management on academic and administrative employees at a South African higher education institution. African Journal of Business and Economic Research (AJBER). 17(3): 281-307 (26). doi:10.31920/1750-4562/2022/v17n3a131750-45541750-4562 (Online)https://hdl.handle.net/10321/4353The study aimed to address the management and its impact on the age and tenure cohort at a higher education institution. An overview of what constitutes the characteristics of managers as well as a discourse between leadership and management skills is provided. The study adopted a mixed method design comprising a quantitative approach for employees and a qualitative approach for line management leadership and executive management leadership. The total population for the quantitative method constituted 1874 academic and administrative employees with a targeted sample of 420. The study obtained a response rate of 312 out of 420 employees. The qualitative data collection tools for the management were semi-structured interviews and open-ended interviews of 12 out of 18 being the realised sample size. The study showed evidence of poor leadership and management qualities in relation to support, role-modelling, trust, critical decisions, and self-management which may have a negative effect on younger and new employees. The study made an original contribution to this area as it depicted a clear indication of poor role-modelling and decision-making that managers lack, conflict management skills and its implications thereof.27 penConflict management14 Economics15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and ServicesHigher education institutionLeadershipManagementLeadership skillsRole-modellingArticle2022-10-0510.31920/1750-4562/2022/v17n3a13