Concept of Conflict Translation Turns Organizational Tensions in Hybrid Islamic Boarding Schools into Institutional Adaptation

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FORMOSA NEWS

Recent research published in August 2026 by Alif Firdaus Zamzam, Yatim Riyanto, and Muhamad Sholeh from Universitas Negeri Surabaya and Universitas Islam Darul Ulum Lamongan reveals how hybrid Islamic boarding schools manage internal tensions through the concept of "conflict translation". This study is crucial for shifting the perspective on organizational conflict from a mere disruption into a source of institutional adaptation and innovation.

Hybrid Islamic boarding schools, which combine formal schooling and residential pesantren systems, create friction between academic logics—focusing on achievement and efficiency—and pesantren logics that prioritize character and tradition. Conventionally, conflict in educational institutions has often been misdiagnosed as interpersonal problems, whereas it is actually structural friction inherent to dual organizational designs.

This study employed a qualitative approach using a multiple-case study design across two state madrasahs in Lamongan Regency, East Java. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews, observation, and document studies to trace the dynamics of interaction within the school environment.

Data analysis substantiates several key findings:

• Major conflicts in hybrid organizations stem from institutional boundary ambiguity between academic and boarding demands, rather than personal animosity.
• School leaders act as institutional translators who reframe competing demands through shared value frameworks.
• Analysis mapped 14 types of conflict typologies distributed evenly across horizontal peer and vertical hierarchical dimensions.
• The conflict translation process produces durable hybrid practices, such as peer mentoring systems and integrated value-reflection points in the curriculum.

The implications of this study indicate that educational institution leaders need to master translation skills and strengthen social capital in the form of trust and networks. According to the researchers from Universitas Negeri Surabaya and Universitas Islam Darul Ulum Lamongan, proper conflict management turns differences into a driving engine for organizational progress.

Author Profiles

• Alif Firdaus Zamzam – Researcher and academic at Universitas Negeri Surabaya with expertise in educational management.
• Yatim Riyanto – Researcher and academic at Universitas Negeri Surabaya with expertise in educational sciences.
• Muhamad Sholeh – Researcher and academic at Universitas Negeri Surabaya with expertise in education.

Research Source

• Article Title: From Conflict Resolution to Conflict Translation: Managing Organizational Tensions in Hybrid Islamic Boarding Schools
• Journal Name: Journal of Educational Analytics (JEDA), Vol. 5 No. 3, August 2026
• DOI/URL: https://doi.org/10.55927/jeda.v5i3.38