The Stress in the Workplace - Coursework Example

The Impact of Group Support on Stress in the Workplace The Impact of Group Support on Stress in the Workplace Introduction Most individuals from all walks of life certainly experience ups and downs. During low points in life, or certainly when difficult decisions abound, stress can be a hinderance in the lives of many. It does not have to be, however, if the individual has in place a solid support group that helps deal with any problems that do arise in the course of daily living. As adults spend most of their time in a workplace environment, it is little wonder that much of the stress reported in today’s society occurs in a workplace environment. Stress within the workplace environment is an increasing concern, particular during this time of economic turmoil and increasing competition on a global scale (Annscheutz, 2009). Employees today are facing increasing difficult conditions that are causing job insecurity, historically low levels of job satisfaction, and a relative lack of any sense of personal autonomy within the professional environment itself. Such stressful conditions have been determined to have a potentially negative impact on the overall health and well being of employees, in addition to resulting decreased productivity, efficiency, and profits (Clark, 2012). In the end, there must be measures that individuals and organizations alike can do to help minimize the effects of stress, and this possibly can occur by better understanding the impact that group support can have in this area. Within this study, the researcher needs to first analyze the need for employees to recognize various factors that can lead to stress within the workplace environment, in an effort to better determine the types of assistance that they may require to lessen the negative impact that such feelings can invoke. A call to action, of sorts, must be issued to better make use of group support within the workplace in an effort to foster an atmosphere of mutual support and respect for one another (Cooper, Dewe, and O’Drisocll, 2011). As this study is approached, it is done so from the perspective that stress is related to the concept of individuals feelings in response to a particular demand placed upon time and space. While stress is certainly to be considered a natural part of life, it also must be realized that such feeling generally occur when there is some type of change to the environment and associated surroundings, and this can be either positive or negative (Grimshaw, 2009). Within that realm, this study will help determine that impact that group support can have on turning a stressful situation into something that is positive. Statement of the Problem The problem is that stress in the workplace, if not properly managed, can impact not only the lives of the individuals involved, but can also affect the overall environment and atmosphere of the organization in general. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study will be to analyze the impact that group support can have the levels of stress evident within a professional workplace environment. It is important to determine various factors that can help turn stress into something that is a positive for the both the individual and the organization, and the power of the group is seen as one possible way to realize this important objective. The study will begin with a thorough review of relevant literature in this area to determine various factors that typically lead to stress in today’s modern organizational environment. Such studies will provide the foundation for conducting field research that will involve the research interviewing professionals that work in a group oriented environment to determine how that impact their level of stress, as opposed to having not group support evident. Through these narrative accounts, the insight and perspectives gained will enable reliable and valid conclusions to be formed that will help solve this problem. The information will be triangulated with knowledge gained via the literature review to adding to the existing body of knowledge related to this topic. Overview of the Design Appropriateness The design of this proposed qualitative and exploratory study is to approach a study of the topic from the perspective of trying to analyze and discuss the various experiences that professionals in a group setting have when dealing with stress. At the same time, the design is such that raw data and information will be collected from existing research and field interviews that are designed to add to the body of knowledge related to this topic (Leedy & Ormrod, 2010). Numerous scholars have work to lend additional support for better understanding the relationship between group support and the level of stress actualized in the workplace environment, primarily by discussing and relating individual perceptions and insights using the same style of qualitative research to be employed in this particular project (Goretskaya, 2007). In addition, the exploratory approach of such a study lends well to the explanation of business related phenomenon, particularly with those interested in developing ways to minimize workplace related stress, by giving participants the opportunity to related their own opinions and experiences in a narrative fashion. Such individuals are able to relate various ways that group support can help lessen the impact of stress in a workplace environment, and can help to implement conclusions to potentially assist others in this endeavor in the future. This specific qualitative and exploratory approach is not only helpful to the dissemination of the results, but it also relates well to the support of the data collection techniques that will be utilized within the scope of this study, primarily through the use of personal, face to face interviews with qualified individuals. The knowledge that is gained via this process will also be helpful to uncover various common themes that are expressed by the interviewees throughout the course of the study itself (Christensen, Johnson, & Turner, 2011). The common themes that will emerge as a result of the narratives given by the individuals responding to a request for an individual will be gained as a result of better understanding the potential role that group support does have on the level of stress experienced by professionals in a workplace environment. A quantitative approach was considered for this particular topic and its corresponding study, but it was determined that such a design would not, in the end, be appropriate. This decision came about because of the understanding and belief that such a quantitative approach would mostly prove useful as a way of describing the various feelings and emotions elicited by individual participants in a study, primarily as a way to enable them to express their own understand of the central phenomenon that forms the foundation for the study itself. The Delphi method actually makes use of certain highly specialized problem solving techniques that can work to harness and reconcile various piece of information from experts, all in an effort to formulate solutions based upon the feedback that is received (Creswell, 2008). The types of studies that are currently available in this area, however, contain a depth of knowledge that pertains specifically to expert information relating to the use of group support is stress related situations in the workplace, but not the extent to which such knowledge is helpful in addressing the problem. For that to occur, narratives are needed for qualified individuals in order to determine how, exactly, group support can be utilized to lessen levels of stress in a workplace environment. Because of this, the Delphi method was determined not to be nearly as suitable for this study as that the qualitative and exploratory approach. References Annscheutz, B. L. (2009). The high cost of caring…coping with workplace stress. OACAD Journal, 43(3), 17-21. Clark, J. (2012). Stress: A management guide. London: Spiro Press. Cooper, C. L., Dewe, P. J., and O’Driscoll, M. P. (2011). Organizational stress: A review and critique of theory, research, and applications. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Cresswell, J. W. (2008). Education research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Denzin, N., and Lincoln, Y. (Eds). (2000). Handbook of qualitative research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Eggers, R., and Jones, C. (1998). Practical considerations for conducting Delphi studies: The oracle enters a new age. Educational Research Quarterly, 21(3), 52-66. Goretskaya, Y. (2007). Influence of alternative methods of instruction on English learners achievements in northern California school districts. (Doctoral dissertation). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. (Publication No. AAT 3251379) Grimshaw, J. (2009). Employment and health: Psychosocial stress in the workplace. London: The British Library. Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2010). Practical research: Planning and design (9th ed.). Retrieved from http://www.pearsoned.com Wainwright, D., and Calnan, M. (2012). Work stress: The making of a modern epidemic. Buckingham: Open University Press. Read More