T2: t2: Stress, Crisis And Change Management

Question 1

Definition of stress

Answer 1

• body’s reaction to change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment/response
• adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demands placed on them at work
• is the way the body reacts to situations that a person finds difficult to control

Question 2

List four causes of stress in the business environment

Answer 2

• work overload
• long working hours
• time pressures
• bullying, harassment, violence

Question 3

List four effects of stress on a business

Answer 3

• absenteeism
• poor judgment
• grievances/complaints that lead to high staff turnover
• conflict and interpersonal problems

Question 4

Explain absenteeism as an effect of stress on the business

Answer 4

• stressed employees are more likely to miss work
• lost productivity and replacement costs are a consequence of absenteeism
• premature death among workers and increase in staff turnover requires more regular recruitment and training

Question 5

Explain poor judgment as an effect of stress in a business

Answer 5

• can lead to a high occurrence of accidents

Question 6

Explain grievances or complaints that lead to high staff turnover as an effect of stress on the business

Answer 6

• unresolved complaints can lead to registration and higher staff turnover
• productive time is lost in the process of recruitment and training new employees
• high turnover is not good for staff morale

Question 7

Explain conflict and interpersonal problems as an effect of stress on the business

Answer 7

• interpersonal demands due to working with team members and supervisors are the most significant cause of burnout

Question 8

List four ways employees can manage stress in the workplace

Answer 8

• exercise regularly and keep fit
• follow a balanced diet
• get enough sleep and relaxation
• apply good time management skills

Question 9

List four ways employees can manage stress in the workplace

Answer 9

• exercise regularly and keep fit
• follow a balanced diet
• get enough sleep and relaxation
• apply good time management skills

Question 10

Explain the importance of stress management in the workplace

Answer 10

• conflict and interpersonal problems can be avoided if stress is managed in the workplace
• managing stress will curb absenteeism to maintain productivity in the workplace
• grievances or complaints that lead to staff turnover can be addressed if stress is well-managed
• stressed employees are more likely to miss work, both as a way to cope and due to health related problems

Question 11

Definition of crisis

Answer 11

• it is a time of intense difficulty, trouble or danger
• an event that can, within a short period of time, harm the business’ stakeholders, property, finances or reputation

Question 12

List four examples of crisis in the workplace

Answer 12

• loss of property due to fire
• theft of assets and equipment
• breakdown in machinery
• power outages

Question 13

List four ways in which businesses can deal with crisis in the workplace

Answer 13

• prevent the crisis from happening
• provide accurate and correct information
• resolve any conflict of interest
• be sensitive to the people concerned

Question 14

Definition of change

Answer 14

• change is a process that takes people, employees and organizations from the present to a future desired change
• new ways to get things done
• business needs to change to meet changing needs of customers, improved technology and international competition

Question 15

List four internal causes of change

Answer 15

• new management
• restructuring
• retrenchment
• new equipment

Question 16

List four external causes of change with examples

Answer 16

• social factors (eg. Poverty, unemployment, HIV and Aids, etc)
• legal factors (eg. Passing of new laws)
• economic factors (eg. Increase in interest rate)
• technological factors (eg. Advances in production techniques)

Question 17

List four reasons for resisting change

Answer 17

• loss of power and control
• reluctance to change old habits
• awareness of weakness in the proposed change
• peer pressure

Question 18

Explain the loss of power and control as a reason to resist change

Answer 18

• restructuring may change the amount of power that some people have

Question 19

Explain the reluctance to change old habits as a reason to resist change

Answer 19

• new processes require a different mode of thinking

Question 20

Explain the awareness of weakness in the proposed change as a reason to resist change

Answer 20

• employees may resist change as they see it will cause problems

Question 21

Explain peer pressure as a reason to resist change

Answer 21

• groups of people may pressurise others to resist change

Question 22

List four ways in which businesses can deal with change in the workplace

Answer 22

• sound decision-making process, employees should be part of planning the change through transparency and trust
• good communication by keeping employees informed of decisions and anticipated changes
• acknowledge that change is stressful by creating learning and empowerment forums to cope with change
• anticipate future and current events and adapt in advance for the change

Question 23

List four major changes that people and businesses deal with

Answer 23

• unemployment
• retrenchment
• globalization
• affirmative action

Question 24

Explain unemployment

Answer 24

• when employees lose their jobs as they’re fired or they quit
• change can lead to unemployment due to retrenchment
• business may close down or merge, resulting in unemployment
• traumatic and can lead to depression

Question 25

Explain retrenchment

Answer 25

• when the business cuts the number of workers to reduce wages and salary bill
• process whereby employer reviews business needs to increase profits or limit losses, which leads to reducing employees
• economic changes may result in many people being retrenched from their jobs

Question 26

Meaning of globalization

Answer 26

• trend where businesses are able to trade in different countries
• business must deal with and adapt to changes that globalization brings
• means that many local businesses struggle to compete with bigger, stronger, more experienced markets abroad

Question 27

List four strategies businesses can use to deal with globalization

Answer 27

• business should be aware of changes on related industry
• investigate overseas markets for their products
• build strategy for connecting with the government
• comply with international trade laws

Question 28

Meaning of affirmative action

Answer 28

• policy that ensures that qualified people from designated groups have equal opportunities in the workplace
• policy aims to ensure that black south africa, women and people with disabilities are well represented in the business
• workers can resent affirmative action appointments and people who have been appointed in affirmative action positions

Question 29

List four strategies businesses can use to deal with affirmative action

Answer 29

• inform employees on how affirmative action will be implemented in the business
• business must have acceptable affirmative action programmes
• business must indicate in all their job adverts that they’re affirmative action employers
• they should open themselves to new ideas and opportunities instead of sticking to the past