Course: MBASubject : Organization Behavior

Unit: 4

Stress is a dynamic condition in which an individual is confronted with an opportunity, constraint or demand related to what he or she desires and for which the outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and important.

Stress is associated with constraints and demands.

Forces that prevent individuals from doing what they desire-CONSTRAINTS

The loss of something desired- DEMANDS

Environmental Factors

Economic uncertainties of the business cycle Political uncertainties of political systems Technological uncertainties of technical innovations Terrorism in threats to physical safety and security

Organional Factors Task demands related to the job

Role demands of functioning in an organization

Interpersonal demands created by other employees

Organizational structure (rules and regulations)

Organizational leadership (managerial style)

Organization’s life stage (growth, stability, or decline)

Individual Factors Family and personal relationships Economic problems from exceeding earning capacity Personality problems arising for basic disposition

Individual Differences Perceptual variations of how reality will affect the individual’s

future. Greater job experience moderates stress effects. Social support buffers job stress. Internal locus of control lowers perceived job stress. Strong feelings of self-efficacy reduce reactions to job stress.

High LevelsHigh Levelsof Stressof Stress

PhysiologicalPhysiologicalSymptomsSymptoms

BehavioralBehavioralSymptomsSymptoms

PsychologicalPsychologicalSymptomsSymptoms

Individual Approaches

Implementing time management

Increasing physical exercise

Relaxation training

Expanding social support network

Organizational Approaches

Improved personnel selection and job placement

Training

Use of realistic goal setting

Redesigning of jobs

Increased employee involvement

Improved organizational communication

Offering employee sabbaticals

Establishment of corporate wellness programs

Distress is a term for negative stress.

Negative stress has the following characteristics:

Causes anxiety or concern

Can be short- or long-term

Is perceived as outside of our coping abilities

Feels unpleasant

Decreases performance Can lead to mental and physical problems

For example:

The death of a spouse Filing for divorce Losing contact with loved ones The death of a family member Hospitalization (oneself or a family member) Injury or illness (oneself or a family member) Being abused or neglected Separation from a spouse or committed relationship partner Conflict in interpersonal relationships Bankruptcy/Money Problems Unemployment Sleep problems Children's problems at school Legal problems

Eustress is a term for positive stress.

Positive stress has the following characteristics:

Motivates, focuses energy

Is short-term

Is perceived as within our coping abilities

Feels exciting

Improves performance

For example:

Receiving a promotion or raise at work Starting a new job Marriage Buying a home Having a child Moving Taking a vacation Holiday seasons Retiring Taking educational classes or learning a new hobby

BURNOUT It is a state of mind resulting from prolonged exposure due to an

intense emotional stress. As a result, people become physically and psychologically weakened from trying to combat it.

This condition is called “burnout” – a situation in which employees are emotionally exhausted, become detached from their clients and their work and feel unable to accomplish their goals.

When workers become burned out, they are more likely to complain, to attribute their errors to others and to be highly irritable.

This leads to higher turnover, increased absenteeism and decreased quality and quantity of job performance.

TRAUMA

It occurs following a major threat to one’s security. The event could be a natural disaster, an organizational crisis,

dramatic employee abuse by the employer or personal job loss.

Three types of trauma that have achieved notoriety in recent years:

Work place trauma Lay-off survivor’s sickness Post-traumatic stress disorder [explained in Keith Davis, pg no. 367]