Fundamentals of Management, 8th ed

Interpersonal Demands

• Group pressures

• Leadership styles

• Conflicting

 personalities

Task Demands

• Quick decisions

• Incomplete information

 for decisions

• Critical decisions

Physical Demands

• Temperature extremes

•  Poorly designed office

•  Threats to health

Role Demands

• Role conflict

• Role ambiguity

Organizational Stressors

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F I G U R E 9 . 5

Causes of Work Stress

There are several causes of work stress in organizations. Four general sets of

organizational stressors are task demands, physical demands, role demands, and

interpersonal demands.

Chapter 9: Basic Elements of Individual Behavior in Organizations

2 7 5

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communication devices that keep people connected to their jobs are also potential

sources of stress.

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Although job cuts and layoffs during the 2008–2009 recession focused

on the stress experienced by those losing their jobs (and appropriately so), it’s also the

case that many of the managers imposing the layoffs experienced stress.

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Interpersonal demands are stressors associated with relationships that confront people

in organizations. For example, group pressures regarding restriction of output and norm

conformity can lead to stress. Leadership styles may also cause stress. An employee who

feels a strong need to participate in decision making may feel stress if his boss refuses to

allow participation. And individuals with conflicting personalities may experience stress

if required to work too closely together. For example, a person with an internal locus of

control might be frustrated when working with someone who prefers to wait and just let

things happen.