Factors impact on job stress of middle managers in vietnam

UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS HO CHI MINH CITY International School of Business DUONG QUI SUU FACTORS IMPACT ON JOB STRESS OF MIDDLE MANAGERS IN VIETNAM MASTER OF BUSINESS (Honours) Ho Chi Minh City – Year 2015 UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS HO CHI MINH CITY International School of Business DUONG QUI SUU FACTORS IMPACT ON JOB STRESS OF MIDDLE MANAGERS IN VIETNAM ID: 22120108 MASTER OF BUSINESS SUPERVISOR: CAO HAO THI Ho Chi Minh City – Year 2015 I ABSTRACT Purpose - This study aims to determine the factors impact on job stress of middle manager in Vietnam and examine how effect of job stress on job performance of people who get stress at work A quantitative research design with a sample of 151 valid respondents was employed To test reliability and validity of variables, Cronbach’s Alpha and EFA were applied Multiple linear regression method was conducted to test the hypotheses that were described on research model One-Way ANOVA was used to test the impact of demographic variables on job stress of middle managers in Vietnam Findings - the results have showed that four independent factors which are work overload, conflict at work, lack of support and unfavorable work environment have positively impact on job stress The factor of work overload has strongest effect on job stress; the second is conflict at work; the third are lack of support and unfavorable work environment factors have nearly the same impact on job stress The results also indicated that job stress has negatively effect on job performance Finally, the ANOVA testing results have pointed out that gender and marital status have no difference effect on job stress Whereas management experience and age have different level of influence on job stress of middle managers in Vietnam Key words: Middle managers, Job stress, Job performance, Work overload, Conflict at Work, Lack of support, Work environment II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am sincerely thank you to the lecturers at International School of Business (ISB) of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh city (UEH) have given me valuable knowledges during the past years Especially, Mr Cao Hao Thi, my supervisor, patiently offered valuable advice and enthusiastic guides at each step to support me implementation this research I would like to extend “thank you” to all my colleagues at Schindler Vietnam Co., Ltd, Nissey Vietnam Co., Ltd, Metkraft Vietnam Co., Ltd, Hiep Phuoc Power Co., Ltd, PLUS Vietnam Industrial Co., Ltd, Crown Dong Nai Co., Ltd, Ba Huan Co., Ltd, and thank to all my classmates at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, have actively supported me to completed this study III TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS II TABLE OF CONTENTS III LIST OF TABLES V LIST OF FIGURES VI CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background and Problem Statement 1.2 Research Objectives 1.3 Research Questions 1.4 Research Contribution 1.5 Research Scope 1.6 Research Structure CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Job Stress 2.2 Job Performance 2.3 Relationship between Job Stress and Job Performance 2.4 Factors That Impact on Job Stress 2.5 Research Hypotheses 11 2.5.1 Hypotheses between organizational factors and job stress 12 2.5.2 Hypotheses between demographic factors and job stress 14 2.5.3 Hypothesis between job stress on job performance 15 2.6 Research Model 16 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 18 3.1 Research Process 18 3.2 Measurement Scales 20 3.2.1 Measurement scales for independent factors 20 3.2.2 Measurement scales for dependent factors 21 3.2.3 Measurement scales for demographic factor 22 IV 3.3 Questionnaire Design 23 3.4 Data Collection Method 24 3.4.1 Sampling method 24 3.4.2 Pilot study 24 3.4.3 Main survey 27 3.5 Data Analysis Method 27 3.5.1 Reliability testing assumptions 28 3.5.2 Validity testing assumptions 28 3.5.3 Hypotheses testing assumptions 29 3.5.4 ANOVA testing assumptions 29 CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS 31 4.1 Descriptive Data 31 4.2 Reliability Testing 32 4.3 Validity Testing 34 4.4 Hypotheses Testing 39 4.5 ANOVA Testing 42 4.6 Data Analysis Results and Findings 43 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION 46 5.1 Overview of Research 46 5.2 Discussion of the Findings 47 5.3 Practical Implications 49 5.4 Limitations and Further Research 50 REFERENCES 52 APPENDIX 56 APPENDIX A1: English version of primary questionnaire 56 APPENDIX A2: Vietnamese version of primary questionnaire 59 APPENDIX A3: English version of final questionnaire 62 APPENDIX A4: Vietnamese version of final questionnaire 65 APPENDIX A5: Sources of questionnaire items 68 V LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1: Summary of the factors leading to job stress based on previous research 10 Table 3.1: Measurement variables for independent factors based on previous research 21 Table 3.2: Measurement variables for dependent factors based on previous research 22 Table 3.3: Pilot test results of Cronbach’s Alpha 26 Table 4.1: Sample profile of respondents 31 Table 4.2: Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test results 33 Table 4.3: Final results of Cronbach’s Alpha after deleted unsupported variable 34 Table 4.4: First EFA test for independent factors results 35 Table 4.5: Final EFA test for independent factors results 36 Table 4.6: EFA testing results of job stress factor 37 Table 4.7: EFA testing results of job performance factor 38 Table 4.8: The first model testing results 39 Table 4.9: The second hypotheses testing result 41 Table 4.10: The results of testing hypotheses 42 Table 4.11: ANOVA testing for Demographic Variables 43 VI LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1: Research model 16 Figure 3.1: Research Process 19 Figure 3: Regression histogram……… 69 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Nowadays, many challenges of business environment that requires management team of each company have to working hard to maintain and develop company business There are a lot of duties that management team of companies have to daily such as develop a good team, update new technologies, motivate employees to deliver higher performance, complete paper works, plan and control business results (Brotheridge & Long, 2007) Besides that management team is also deal with unexpected issues may happen daily such as conflict at work, poor work environmental conditions, lack of support from supervisors, colleagues and subordinates, wasting time for unnecessary things From these reasons, middle management in companies normally gets high stress at work (Fayza, 2013) Today, job stress has become a major problem that management team has to deal with daily In order to understand more clearly the about job stress and how it impact on job performance of managers who get stress at work, this research had focused on studying stress factors and examined the effect of job stress on job performance of middle manager in Vietnam 1.1 Background and Problem Statement Vietnam is a developing country There are many big companies including foreigner and Vietnamese’s companies have opened business in Vietnam They need a good quality labor force to develop business Middle managers have become a target of all companies for hunting Besides advantages, the job requirements of middle manger have higher and higher over time They are considered an important link between the top management and employees Managers have to set up plan, manage and communicate among employees to implement company’s strategy Therefore, management team normally get high pressure from work, especially middle managers they get a lot of pressures from their supervisors, colleagues and requirements of managing their subordinates to achieve the company's goals (Aizzat et al, 2005) For that reason middle managers have always been in a state of high stress at work This study focus on investigating the factors leading to job stress and examine the relationship between job stress and job performance of middle managers who are working at companies in Vietnam There are many studies talk about the stress at work on the world (Perrewe & Ganster 1989., Dua, 1994., Beehr, 1998., Fayza, 2013, Aizzat et al., 2005, Hassan, Hamid, & Saeid, 2014), these research had presented that the factors leading to job stress came from various reasons including role conflict, role ambiguity, work overload, lack of support from organization, less reward and recognition, career block, less opportunity to promotion, pressure of time The level of stress was also difference based on demographic variables such as gender, marital status, age, experience or personalities of each person Aizzat et al., (2005) had stated that people had high ambition, expectation or high neuroticism would get higher stress at work Another research of Yu-Chi Wu (2011) had indicated that there is a relationship between job stress and job performance, people who get higher stress at work may deliver lower job performance than people who get less job stress In Vietnam, there are some research had studied the influence of job stress on quality of life, health Le Quoc Nam (2008) had presented that the causes of stress may be work overload, work long hours, unstable job, poor work environmental conditions such as hot, noise, lack of space, unsafe, air pollution This author had also presented the consequences of job stress that people be in highly stress usually feel exhausted whenever, headache, sleep problem, less concentrate, easy angry, even feel hopeless and suicide However, most articles in Vietnam had presented the causes of stress and given the general impact of stress on the health, quality of life of people who are facing with job stress Very few studies have deeply researched the influence level of each stressor factors impact on job stress as well as examine the effect of job stress on job performance of middle managers in Vietnam Therefore, this study will focus on identifying the factors that lead to stress at work, and evaluated the strength each factor affecting on job 55 Sauter, S L., Murphy, L R., & Hurrell, J J (1990) Prevention of work-related psychological disorders: A national strategy proposed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) American Psychologist, 45, 1146-1158 Spence L H K., Purdy, N., Cho, J., and Almost, J (2006) Antecedents and Consequences of Nurse Managers' Perceptions of Organizational Support Nursing Economics, 24(1), 20-29 Tidd, S T & Friedman, R A (2002) Conflict Style and Coping With Role Conflict: An Extension of The Uncertainty International Journal of Conflict Management, 13(3) 236 – 257 Yu-Chi Wu, (2011) Job Stress And Job Performance Among Employees In The Taiwanese, Social Behavior and Personality, 39(1), 1341-1356 Warraich U A., Ahmed R R., Ahmad N and Khoso I (2014) Impact of Stress on Job Performance: An Empirical study of the Employees of Private Sector Universities of Karachi, Pakistan Research Journal of Management Sciences, 3(7), 14-17 56 APPENDIX APPENDIX A1: English version of primary questionnaire My name: Duong Quy Suu I am studying on the topic "Factors Leading to Job Stress among Middle Managers at Companies in Vietnam" Please take a moment to carry out this survey The survey respondents as well as all responses are very important for this research I commit all information is kept confidential and only used for research purposes If you have any questions or wish to refer to the survey results, please contact Duong Quy Suu: 0918 184 185, email: dqsuu@yahoo.com There are parts in this survey Time to complete survey takes about 10 minutes Please answer all the questions in this questionnaire Part 1: Questions for survey independent factors This part you will tick the appropriate numbered with your own opinion under the following scale: 1: Never, 2: Sometimes, 3: often, 4: Always, 5: Almost always I Questions to survey work overload variable; You often work long hour than normal You always feel not enough time for family and take a rest You have to many tasks at the same period of time You feel that the work always occupied the time and sometimes cannot control the job II Questions to measure level of conflict at work; You encounter conflict at work Sometimes you have to the works that are not belong to your Sometimes there are some people disagree with your opinions 57 There are some colleagues, clients or superiors complaining about the quality of your work or your product III Survey factors lack of support at work Your superiors not provide enough resources (budget, facilities, human resources, communication, power ) to perform work 10 Relevant departments not support you well to complete work 11 Your employees not comply with work requirements 12 Your superiors have not properly assessed your capacity IV Survey unfavorable work environment variable; 13 Your work environment crowded, noisy it makes difficult to concentrate at work 14 Your job was competing by colleagues or competitors 15 Your workplace is hot, lack of space or pollution It makes you stress 16 You are often facing with unexpected problems such as equipment breakdown, employees off unexpectedly V Questions to survey job performance of middle managers; 17 You believed that stress at work will reduce the efficiency of your 18 You believed that job stress will easily lead to mistakes at work 19 You cannot achieve your goals because of job stress 20 Stress at work will reduce your concentration at work VI Questions for measuring level of job stress of middle manager in Vietnam; 21 You feel nervous with the pressure of the deadline for completion of work 22 You feel bored with repetitive tasks daily 23 You are not sleeping well at night when you think about your job 24 Sometimes you want to be alone, not want contact with other people 25 You often feel tired with works 26 Job stress makes you angry easily than before 27 The work always makes you think and worry 58 Part 2: Personal information This part you will choose the appropriate category with your term: Gender Male or Female Marital status Single or Married How long you have been in management roles? a Less than year b From to years c From to years d Over years Age a Less than 25 b From 25 to 35 c From 35 to 45 d Over 45 59 APPENDIX A2: Vietnamese version of primary questionnaire Tôi tên: Dương Quý Sửu Hiện thực khảo sát để thực để tài nghiên cứu vần đề “Nhân tố dẫn đấn căng thẳng công việt quản lý cấp trung doanh nghiệp Việt Nam” Anh/Chị vui lòng dành phút để thực bảng khảo sát Việc trả lời phiếu khảo sát phản hồi quan trọng cho việc nghiên cứu Tôi cam kết thông tin giữ bí mật dùng cho mục đích nghiên cứu Nếu có thắc mắc có nhu cầu tham khảo kết khảo sát xin liên hệ Duong Quy Suu: 0918 184 185, email: dqsuu@yahoo.com Bảng Khảo Sát gồm phần Thời gian hoàn thành Bảng Khảo Sát khoảng 10 phút Vui lòng trả lời tất câu hỏi Phần 1: Câu hỏi khảo sát yếu tố độc lập Phần bạn đánh dấu vào ô thích hợp so với ý kiến riêng bạn theo thang điểm sau: 1: Không bao giờ, 2: Đôi khi, 3: Thường xuyên, 4: Rất thường xuyên, 5: Luôn I Câu hỏi khảo sát tình trạng tải công việc Bạn thường xuyên làm việc nhiều bình thường Bạn có cảm giác không đủ thời gian cho gia đình nghĩ ngơi Bạn phải thực nhiều công việc lúc Bạn cảm thấy công việc chiếm hết thời gian đôi lúc kiểm soát công việc II Câu hỏi để đo mức độ mâu thuẫn nơi làm việc; Bạn gặp phải mẫu thuẫn công việc Đôi bạn phải làm việc không thuộc trách nhiệm bạn Đôi có người không đồng tình với ý kiến bạn Có đồng nghiệp, khách hàng cấp phàn nàn chất lượng công việc sản phẩm bạn 60 III Khảo sát yếu tố thiếu hỗ trợ công việc Cấp không cung cấp đủ nguồn lực (ngân sách, thiết bị, nhân lực, thông tin, quyền hạn…) để thực công việc 10 Những phận liên quan công ty chưa hổ trợ tốt để bạn thực công việc 11 Nhân viên bạn không tuân thủ yêu cầu công việc 12 Cấp bạn chưa đánh giá lực bạn IV Khảo sát môi trường làm việc; 13 Môi trường làm việc bạn làm bạn khó tập trung vào công việc 14 Công việc bạn bị canh tranh đồng nghiệp đối thủ cạnh tranh 15 Nơi làm việc bạn đông đúc, chật hẹp, nóng ồn 16 Bạn thường đối mặt với tình không mong muốn máy móc, thiết bị hư đột xuất, nhân viên nghĩ đột xuất V Các câu hỏi để khảo sát hiệu công việc quản lý cấp trung; 17 Bạn cho căng thẳng công việc làm giảm hiệu công việc 18 Bạn cho căng thẳng công việc dễ gây lỗi lầm công việc 19 Công việc căng thẳng không đảm bảo chắn kết công việc bạn đạt kết tốt mong muốn 20 Căng thẳng công việc làm giảm tập trung bạn vào công việc VI Câu hỏi đo mức độ căng thẳng công việc quản lý cấp trung Việt Nam; 21 Bạn cảm thấy lo lắng với áp lực thời hạn hoàn thành công việc 22 Bạn cảm thấy chán với công việc lặp lặp lại hàng ngày 23 Bạn không ngủ ngon giấc vào ban đêm nghĩ công việc 24 Đôi bạn muốn yên tĩnh, không muốn tiếp xúc với người khác 25 Bạn cảm thấy mệt mỏi với công việc 26 Công việc căng thẳng làm bạn dễ nỗi giận trước 27 Bạn lo lắng gặp phải sai sót công việc 61 Phần 2: Thông tin cá nhân Trong phần bạn chọn hạn mục thích hợp với bạn Giới tính Nam Nữ Tình trạng hôn nhân Độc thân hay Đã lập gia đình Bạn làm quản lý bao lâu? a Dưới năm b Từ đến năm c Từ đến năm d Trên năm Độ tuổi bạn a Dưới 25 b Từ 25 đến 35 c Từ 35 đến 45 d Trên 45 62 APPENDIX A3: English version of final questionnaire My name: Duong Quy Suu I am studying on the topic "Factors Leading to Job Stress among Middle Managers at Companies in Vietnam" Please take a moment to carry out this survey The survey respondents as well as all responses are very important for this research I commit all information is kept confidential and only used for research purposes If you have any questions or wish to refer to the survey results, please contact Duong Quy Suu: 0918 184 185, email: dqsuu@yahoo.com There are parts in this survey Time to complete survey takes about 10 minutes Please answer all the questions in this questionnaire Part 1: Questions for survey independent factors This part you will tick the appropriate numbered with your own opinion under the following scale: 1: Strongly disagree, 2: Disagree, 3: Neutral, 4: Agree, 5: Strongly agree You often work long hour than normal You always feel never enough time to finish all works You have to many tasks at the same period of time Job demands are usually higher than accomplishment ability of your team 5 You encounter conflict at work You have to some works beyond your job requirements There are some people disagree with your opinions 5 The results of your work have affected on the outcome of other departments Your company does not provide enough resources (budget, equipment, manpower) to complete the jobs 63 10 Relevant departments not support you well to complete work 11 Your employees not comply with work requirements 12 You have less chance to develop career in your current job 5 5 17 Job stress has reduced the efficiency of your job performance 18 Job stress will easily lead to mistakes at work 19 You cannot achieve your goals because of job stress 20 Job stress will limit your ability to solve problems 5 5 25 You often feel tired with works 26 Job stress makes you angry easily than before 27 The work always makes you think and worry Your work environment crowded, noisy it makes difficult to concentrate at work Your working conditions can lead to occupational diseases 14 such as spinal disease, eye disease Your workplace is hot, lack of space or pollution It makes 15 you stress You are often facing with unexpected problems such as 16 equipment breakdown, employees off unexpectedly 13 21 You feel nervous with the pressure of the deadline for completion of work 22 You worry will encounter errors at work 23 24 You are not sleeping well at night when you think about your job You have not enough time to participate in group activities because of work pressure 64 Part 2: Personal information This part you will choose the appropriate category with your term: Gender Male or Female Marital status Single or Married How long you have been in management roles? e Less than year f From to years g From to years h Over years Age e Less than 25 f From 25 to 35 g From 35 to 45 h Over 45 65 APPENDIX A4: Vietnamese version of final questionnaire Tôi tên: Dương Quý Sửu Hiện thực khảo sát để thực để tài nghiên cứu vần đề “Nhân tố dẫn đấn căng thẳng công việt quản lý cấp trung doanh nghiệp Việt Nam” Anh/Chị vui lòng dành phút để thực bảng khảo sát Việc trả lời phiếu khảo sát phản hồi quan trọng cho việc nghiên cứu Tôi cam kết thông tin giữ bí mật dùng cho mục đích nghiên cứu Nếu có thắc mắc có nhu cầu tham khảo kết khảo sát xin liên hệ Duong Quy Suu: 0918 184 185, email: dqsuu@yahoo.com Bảng Khảo Sát gồm phần Thời gian hoàn thành Bảng Khảo Sát khoảng 10 phút Vui lòng trả lời tất câu hỏi Phần 1: Câu hỏi khảo sát yếu tố độc lập Phần bạn đánh dấu vào ô thích hợp so với ý kiến riêng bạn theo thang điểm sau: 1: Rất không đồng ý, 2: Không đồng ý, 3: Trung dung/ Bình thường, 4: Đồng ý, 5: Rất đồng ý Bạn thường xuyên làm việc nhiều bình thường Bạn có cảm giác không đủ thời gian để hoàn thành tất công việc Bạn phải làm nhiều việc khoảng thời gian Nhu cầu công việc thường cao so với khả hoàn thành nhóm bạn 5 Bạn gặp phải mẫu thuẫn công việc Bạn phải làm việc phạm vi yêu cầu công việc bạn Có người không đồng tình với ý kiến bạn Kết công việc bạn có ảnh hưởng đến việc kết phận khác 66 Công ty bạn không cung cấp đủ nguồn lực (ngân sách, thiết bị, nhân lực) để hoàn thành công việc Những phận liên quan công ty chưa hổ trợ tốt để 10 bạn thực công việc Nhân viên bạn không tuân thủ yêu cầu công 11 việc 5 5 5 5 5 5 22 Bạn lo lắng gặp phải sai sót công việc 23 Bạn không ngủ ngon giấc vào ban đêm nghĩ công việc Bạn đủ thời gian để tham gia vào hoạt động tập thể áp lực công việc 25 Bạn thường xuyên cảm thấy mệt mõi với công việc 26 Công việc căng thẳng làm bạn dễ tức giận trước 27 Công việc luôn làm cho bạn suy nghĩ lo lắng 12 Bạn có hội thăng chức công việc 13 14 15 16 17 18 Môi trường làm việc bạn đông đúc, ồn làm bạn khó tập trung vào công việc Điều kiện làm việc bạn dễ dẫn tới bệnh nghề nghiệp bệnh cột sống, bênh mắt, lãng tai Nơi làm việc bạn nóng, chật hẹp ô nhiễm Điều làm cho bạn căng thẳng Bạn thường phải đối mặt với vấn đề bất ngờ cố thiết bị, nhân viên nghỉ đột xuất Công việc căng thẳng làm giảm hiệu thực công việc bạn Công việc căng thẳng dễ dẫn đến sai lầm công việc 19 Bạn khó đạt mục tiêu bạn công việc căng thẳng Công việc căng thẳng làm hạn chế khả bạn giải vấn đề Bạn cảm thấy lo lắng với áp lực thời hạn hoàn thành 21 công việc 20 24 67 Phần 2: Thông tin cá nhân Trong phần bạn chọn hạn mục thích hợp với bạn Giới tính Nam Nữ Tình trạng hôn nhân Độc thân hay Đã lập gia đình Bạn làm quản lý bao lâu? e Dưới năm f Từ đến năm g Từ đến năm h Trên năm Độ tuổi bạn e Dưới 25 f Từ 25 đến 35 g Từ 35 đến 45 h Trên 45 68 APPENDIX A5: Sources of questionnaire items Construct Work Overload (WO) Conflict at Work (CAW) WO1 Measurement Items Work long hour than normal Reference Hassan et al, 2014 WO2 Never enough time to finish all works Perrewe et al, 1989 WO3 WO4 Do many tasks at the same period of time Job demands are higher than team’s capability Davidson et al,1992 CAW1 Encountering conflicts at work Tidd, et al, 2002 CAW2 Nanik, et al, 2011 JS2 JS3 Role ambiguity You have to some works beyond your job requirements Difference point of views There are some people disagree with your opinions Result conflict Your job result have affected on the outcome of other departments Lack of resources (budget, equipment, manpower) Company didn’t provide enough resources to complete the work Lack of support from co-workers, relevant departments Lack of support from your employees Less chance to develop career in your current job Work environment crowded, noisy Work conditions can lead to occupational diseases such as spinal disease, eye disease Workplace is hot, lack of space or pollution Facing with unexpected problem such as equipment breakdown, employees off unexpectedly Feel nervous with the pressure of the deadline for completion of work Worry encountering errors at work Not sleeping well at night JS4 Not enough time to participate in group activities JS5 Feel tired with work JS6 Easy get angry than before JS7 Worrying about job JP1 Inefficiency of job performance Mehmet et al, 2015 JP2 JP3 Easy mistakes at work Cannot achieve the goals because of work stress Afsheen et al, 2012 Ojo, et al, 2014 JP4 Limited ability to solve problems CAW3 CAW4 Lack of Support (LOS) Unfavorable Work Environment (UWE) Job stress (JS) Job Performance (JP) LOS1 LOS2 LOS3 LOS4 UWE1 UWE2 UWE3 UWE4 JS1 Spratlen, L P (1995) Yao & Fan, 2014 Davidson et al, 1992 Spence et al, 2006 Jaramillo et al, 2005 Fayza, 2013 Park et al, 2009 Goldberg and Hillier, 1979 Aizzat et al, 2005 69 Figure 3: Regression histogram ... experience influence on job stress of middle managers in Vietnam H5: Demographic factors has related to job stress of middle managers in Vietnam 2.5.3 Hypothesis between job stress on job performance... the influence level of each stressor factors impact on job stress as well as examine the effect of job stress on job performance of middle managers in Vietnam Therefore, this study will focus on. .. job stress of middle managers who are working in Vietnam Secondly, to examine the strength of each factor affect on job stress and testing how the demographic variables impact on job stress of middle