Strategies to Reduce Effects of Organizational Stress in Health Care Workplaces

Strategies to Reduce Effects of Organizational Stress in Health Care Workplaces by Kate Chinyere Mbidoaka MA, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1989 BA, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1985 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University October 2017 Abstract Workplace stress has become a frequent occurrence in the race for competitive business advantage. This stress leads to negative physiological consequences in the workplace, causing productivity and profitability to suffer. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the stress management strategies that some health care business leaders used to reduce the effects of work-related stress on their employees to improve productivity. The interview process included 3 managers employed at a health care institution in Houston, Texas, with records of implementing successful strategies for mitigating the effects of workplace stress. The conceptual framework was job demands-resources model, pertinent to the research question to shape this study. Data collection occurred through: (a) face-toface semistructured interviews, (b) document reviews including the policy and procedure manual, employee annual evaluations, returned satisfaction surveys; and (c) direct observations, using observational protocol. Using the exploratory standard data analysis process, coded input of interview transcripts produced emergent themes to reduce workplace stress including: (a) adequate work resources, (b) work-life balance, and (c) sound management responsibilities. Findings from this study indicate that business managers using these themes could mitigate some of the negative consequences of organizational stress. The data from this study may contribute to social change through conveying to healthcare functionaries anti-stress strategies, increasing community awareness, and making members of the communities healthier.Workplace stress has become a frequent occurrence in the race for competitive business advantage. This stress leads to negative physiological consequences in the workplace, causing productivity and profitability to suffer. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the stress management strategies that some health care business leaders used to reduce the effects of work-related stress on their employees to improve productivity. The interview process included 3 managers employed at a health care institution in Houston, Texas, with records of implementing successful strategies for mitigating the effects of workplace stress. The conceptual framework was job demands-resources model, pertinent to the research question to shape this study. Data collection occurred through: (a) face-toface semistructured interviews, (b) document reviews including the policy and procedure manual, employee annual evaluations, returned satisfaction surveys; and (c) direct observations, using observational protocol. Using the exploratory standard data analysis process, coded input of interview transcripts produced emergent themes to reduce workplace stress including: (a) adequate work resources, (b) work-life balance, and (c) sound management responsibilities. Findings from this study indicate that business managers using these themes could mitigate some of the negative consequences of organizational stress. The data from this study may contribute to social change through conveying to healthcare functionaries anti-stress strategies, increasing community awareness, and making members of the communities healthier. Strategies to Reduce Effects of Organizational Stress in Health Care Workplaces by Kate Chinyere Mbidoaka MA, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1989 BA, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1985 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University October 2017 Dedication I dedicate this doctoral study to my husband, Emmanuel Mbidoaka, who actually pushed me into this program to help me fulfill my life-long dream of obtaining a doctoral degree, and single-handedly took care of the family to give me the space to work and study. This is also dedicated as an inspiration to my 5 boys, Destiny, Divine, Delight, Dawn, and Dandy, and my assumed daughter, Esther, without whom I would not have the peace of mind to complete this journey. They now know that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. A wealth of gratitude to my deceased parents, Mr. Simon and Mrs. Josephine Aloka, who saw the value of education earlier than their contemporaries and raised 7 college graduates even though they did not graduate high school themselves. To my brother, Mike, I say bravo! In some heroic way you found the funds to steer me toward sound education even though the odds were against an impoverished teenager getting educated at the time. To my cousin, Berty, I say, “thank you” for ensuring that I did not look at happiness through other people’s eyes. I hereby report to all that I have accomplished my initial goal of coming to America. Acknowledgments A special thank you to my chair, Dr Frederick Nwosu, whose intellect is uniquely required to motivate just about any student to succeed. I remain exceedingly grateful to the rest of my committee members, Dr. David Moody and Dr. Judith Blando, whose invaluable feedback made this study scholarly and professional. My committee members made me go through the agony without feeling the pain. Thanks to Dr. Al Endres who reviewed and approved the prospectus to this study. Warm regards to Mr. Fred Walker, who steered me toward sanity with his compassionate attention to my problems.