The Impact of Stress on Managers of Business Organizations (Survey of Commercial Banks)
CHAPTER ONE
Purpose Of The Study
Individuals are well adapted to cope with short-term exposure to pressure. In fact, this can often be positive. but there will be greater difficulty in coping with prolonged intensive pressure. A key pint to recognize is that individuals will react differently to pressure in different situations and at different stages in their working lives. Based on the forgoing, it is worthwhile to conduct a research of this nature to reveal specific facts about stress in Nigerian working environment.
The study is designed to
- Evaluate the impact of stress on Managers Success.
- Suggest ways on how stress can be used as a catalyst for Managers Success.
- Provoke or stimulate further research into the subject matter.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
This chapter of the study will provide in-depth insight on the nature of stress and the impact thereof on productivity. Opinions from different authors will be utilized to provide a better theoretical understanding of the nature of stress, its causes, and then the impact it will have on productivity.
Origin, Terminology And Definition Of Stress
The term stress was first employed in a biological context by the endocrinologist Hans Selye in the 1930s. He later broadened and popularized the concept to include inappropriate physiological response to any demand. In his usage stress refers to a condition and the
stressor to the stimulus causing it. It covers a wide range of phenomenon from mild irritation to drastic dysfunction that may cause severe health breakdown. (Wikipedia)
According to Robbins (2004), stress is a dynamic condition in which an individual is confronted with opportunity, constraint or demand related to what he desires and for which the outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and important. From this definition one can say that stress is not necessarily bad, it also has a positive value when it offers potential gain. Moorhead and Griffen (1998) also defined stress as a person’s adaptive response to a stimulus that places physical and psychological demands on a person.
Similarly, Sherman, Bahlander and Snell (1996), also defined stress as any adjustive demand on an individual caused by physical, emotional or mental factors that requires coping behaviour.
Also Taylor Shelley (1995) describes stress as a negative emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical, physiological, cognitive and behavioural changes that are directed either toward altering the events or accommodating its effects.
Again, Bennett (1994) defines stress as a wide collection of physical and psychological symptoms that results from difficulties experienced by an individual while attempting to adopt to an environment. This means the potential for stress exists when an environmental situation presents a demand threatening to exceed a person’s capabilities and resources.
From the above definitions and descriptions stress can best be seen as excessive demands that affect a person physically and psychologically. Thus the mental or physical condition that results from perceived threat or danger and the pressure to remove it.
NATURE OF STRESS
One believes that stress is a complex phenomenon because it is not tangible so it cannot be overtly touched. According to Bowing and Harvey (2001), stress occurs with the interaction between an individual and the environment, which produces emotional strain affecting a person’s physical and mental condition. Stress is caused by stressors, which are events that create a state of disequilibrium within an individual. These authors also stated that the cost of too much stress on individuals, organizations, and society is high.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the impact of stress on managers of business organizations. Selected commercial banks in Ijebu ode, Ogun state form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS
Presentations And Analysis Of Data
All data collected in the course of the research will be presented by means of a table, which will be related on the strength of their percentages. The interview conducted by the researcher will be discussed under this heading.
From the table above 10% of the respondents viewed stress as any unusual pressure on an individual, while 10% equally looked at it as responsibilities that exceed the capacity of individual, 30% opined that it is sustained feelings of an individual to cope with a given situation. 50% affirm that all the options described in the table are correct.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
INTRODUCTION
This chapter will summarily discuss some if the findings and draw conclusion at the end.
Recommendation will be made as a solution to the problems identified.
SUMMARY
Stress is a double-edged sword that can help discover the elusive ‘aha’ in an organisation; it can also kill the best initiatives in men, which can consequently exterminate any organization irrespective of its reputation.
Most people in management and senior staff categories are still carrying on because of self-motivation on one hand and due to lack of choice on the other hand.
An evaluation of the effects of stress on a macro perspective was carried out in this research work – its effects on society, families, government, and companies and of course, the individual were shown in this work. Particular mention of women was made in this work given their peculiar vulnerability of stress.
The researcher also made an analysis of occupational vulnerabilities of stress, indicating stressors that could be encountered in some selected occupations.
Among the various definitions of stress explored in this research, emotional issues that are common to all of them include: anger, fear and frustration. These emotions are to be controlled as much as possible to save the individual from relapse.
CONCLUSION
In any organization, be it public or private sector, stress is a factor to contend with. Its presence is pervasive as it permeates the entire structure of any organization. Nobody is immune to it. The central issue therefore lies in its management and control.
Stress, if goes unchecked will affect profitability and Managers Success. This researcher therefore entreats all organizations to be mindful of its existence and to put all necessary parameters in place to help its early detection.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the statement of problem, objective of the study and the research findings, the researcher came up with the policy recommendations that will tremendously assist the organization understudy, the society as a whole and future researcher in the related field. The recommendations are as follows;
- It is recommended that the individual afflicted with stress, should immediately remove the stressors if he or she can identify them.
- The individual must as of necessity alter the way he/she thinks and behave immediately stress is noticed.
- Physical and regular exercise is also recommended and this has proven to have therapeutic effect when stress is experienced.
- Those who experience stress due to excessive workload can organize themselves better by equipping their desks with an in-tray, pending tray, and out-tray. And making sure that they sort through their pending tray and empty it once in a week. They should imbibe the culture of delegation where possible.
- Arising from ignorance of stress, it is recommended that organization should promote stress awareness in an in-house publications.
- Suggestion box can be set up for employees and stakeholders to leave ideas on a way forward.
- Discussing work openly can relieve pressure.
- Those who succumb easily to emotions (anger, fear and frustration) should talk openly about their feelings with close friends and confidants.
- Arising from levels of stress in different job types as presented in this research, it is important for people to assess the stress factors on any new job before accepting it.
- It is important to take advantages of training schemes to learn as much as you can about new or different work cultures. Identify like-minded colleagues and work with them to adapt to changes.
- Those prone to regular headache, insomnia should see a doctor who will be in better position to manage such crisis.
- The researcher recommends that organization can set up support systems to help stressed staff. It is also recommended that investment in staff straining can be increased where necessary.
- Star paper mill Ltd aba may consider introducing in-house canteen for lunch menus.
- Some forms of stress can be prevented, for example, the kind of organizational stress caused by poor management or the lack of company policies for dealing with bullying or discipline. Individual stress relating to relationships or personal problems can also be reduced with the kind of understanding and support.
- The government should work with employers, employees, trade unions and others in achieving some percentage reduction in the incidence of work-related ill health.
Medical experts recommend the following habits:
- Identify the source and the stressor
- Maintained a balanced life at home and at work
- Take a holiday
- Prioritize responsibilities and delegate (effective managers delegate).
- Check your BP regularly
- Have regular medical check up for early detection of diabetes, heart disease, heart attack/failure e.t.c.
- Find time to relax
- Avoid smoking, excessive alcohol, reckless living
- Share your worries (it lessens tension and prolongs life).
If organizations can reduce stress, they can reduce these costs, and effective management is the best way of doing this. Recent research links effective people management to good performance and Managers Success.
References
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