Scenario 1 describes a small technology firm in California with a chaotic atmosphere where employees are under constant pressure to meet changing deadlines and expectations. Supervisors frequently reprimand employees publicly for failing to perform. Employees compete for supervisor attention. Scenario 2 depicts a consulting firm in Massachusetts where employees do the same work in the same way for 10 years with little supervision, feedback, communication between departments, or stimulation. Employees work quietly and orderly. The document discusses whether either environment is desirable or indicative of a healthy organization, and argues that while organizational stress is typically viewed negatively, it can have positive aspects called eustress when managed properly. Leaders must consider how to promote or minimize stress in their organizations.

1. Scenario 1
The atmosphere at a small technology firm in California is
always confusing and chaotic. Employees are under constant
pressure to meet deadlines, and expectations frequently and
suddenly change. Despite the lack of clarity, supervisors
frequently reprimand employees for failure to perform.
Supervisors often give these reprimands publicly. Employees
constantly compete for supervisor attention.
Scenario 2
Workers at a business consulting firm in Massachusetts do the
same job they have done in the same way they have done it for
the past 10 years. Employees receive almost no supervision or
feedback. Leadership does little to promote change or foster
creativity. Employees rarely communicate with those outside of
their departments. Employees work quietly in an orderly manner
but receive little stimulation.
It is likely easy to identify which of the scenarios is less
stressful, but is either environment desirable or indicative of a
healthy organization?
Normally, the term
organizational stress
is a negative concept. The majority of stress researchers have
focused on personal distress rather than on examining the
positive aspect of stress called
eustress
(Chou et al., 2014). Scholars and practitioners need to give
more attention to the question of if and when organizational
stress can be beneficial.

2. To prepare for this Discussion
, consider your experiences with stress in organizations and how
you as a leader would address organizational stress.
By Day 3
Post
your evaluation of the impact of organizational stress on the
health of an organization. In your evaluation, do the following:
Explain whether you think organizational stress can be positive,
negative, or both.
Then, given your proposed nature of stress, explain how you, as
a leader, would work to promote or minimize stress within your
organization.
Identify two or more specific tools and strategies you would
employ to assess and manage organizational stress.
Be sure to support your work with
a minimum of two
specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and one
or more additional scholarly sources.
Refer to the Week 5 Discussion Rubric for specific grading
elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this rubric to
assess your work.
Read
a selection of your colleagues’ postings.