EFFECT OF MODERATE STRESS ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF A BUSINESS MANAGER
(A STUDY OF INNOSON TECHNICAL AND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY NIGERIA LIMITED, ENUGU)
ABSTRACT
This research work examined Effect of Moderate Stress on the Productivity of a Business Manager. A study of Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited, Enugu. The objectives of the study include to: find out the extent moderate stress has affected the productivity of a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited, examine the causes of moderate stress in a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited, determine ways of managing moderate stress in a business       manager in  Innoson Technical  and Industrial Company Limited and ascertain whether moderate stress could have varied effect on a business manager. The major instrument of data collection was the questionnaire. The sources of data were the primary and secondary sources. The population of the study was 602 while the sample size of 240 was determined using the Taro Yamane’s formula. The data collected was presented in tables of frequencies and percentages using the five point likert scale. The hypotheses were tested using the chi-square distribution formula. The findings included that moderate stress has affected the productivity of a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Limited to a large extent, There are causes of moderate stress in a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited, There are ways of managing moderate stress in a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited  and moderate stress could have varied effect on a business manager. The researcher concluded that moderate stress could have varied effect on the productivity of a business manager and it was recommended that management of manufacturing organization should be aware of the stress level of their workers as it has a relationship with productivity, techniques of managing stress should be introduced in manufacturing organizations and management of manufacturing organizations should be enlightened on both the positive and negative effect of stress.  
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1     Background of the Study                        
1.2     Statement of the Problem                        
1.3     Objectives of the Study                         
1.4     Research Questions                            
1.5     Statement of Hypotheses                         
1.6     Significance of the Study                        
1.7    Scope of the Study                             
1.8    Limitations of the Study                        
1.9    Operational definition of terms                    
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1    Conceptual Framework                        
2.2     Theoretical Framework of the Study                
2.3    Empirical Review                             
2.4 Summary of Review of Related Literature            
2.5 Gap in the review of the related literature            
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.1    Research Design                            
3.2    Sources of Data                            
3.2.1     Primary Sources                            
3.2.2 Secondary Sources                            
3.3    Area of the Study                            
3.4     Population of the Study                        
3.5    Sample Size Determination                     
3.6     Instruments for Data Collection                
3.7    Validity of the Instrument                     
3.8    Reliability of the Instrument                    
3.9     Method of Data Presentation and Analysis        
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1    Data Presentation and Analysis                 
4.2    Bio-Data                                    
4.3     Data Relating To Research Questions            
4.4    Test of Hypotheses                            
4.5    Discussion of Findings                         
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1    Summary of Findings                         
5.2     Conclusion                                 
5.3     Recommendations                             
5.4    Contribution to Knowledge                     
5.5     Suggestions for further Research                
List of References                             
Appendix    A                                
Appendix    B                                
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    Background of the Study
Prior to the recognition of the importance of managing stress in the year 1992, United Nations report called job stress “The 20th century Epidemic”, then, business managers were showing both physical and mental symptoms of stress (Dan, 2015:64). They were having problems with sleeplessness, constant tiredness, dizziness, headaches, migrane, backaches, cramp of muscle spasms, unable to make decisions, afraid of open or confined spaces, difficulty in relaxing, frequently feeling  irritated,  depression etc and these were  seriously affecting their productivity. Hence, this research decided to examine effect of moderate stress on the productivity of a business manager.
In today’s world, stress has become a worldwide phenomenon, which occurs in various forms in every workplace. Employees are generally working for longer hours, as the rising levels of responsibilities require them to exert themselves even more strenuously to meet rising expectations about work performance (Mark, 2014:106). Stress is a complex and dynamic concept. Undesirable level of stress affects overall performance of the organization. Therefore, in order to get the work done effectively, the organization or manager should properly manage the level of stress.
    Accordingly to Moore (2015:146), stress can be positive     (Eustress) or negative (Distress). Eustress results can be stimulating, thus enhancing work performance and positively encouraging workers to make efforts. Distress results in negative effects on workers health and performance.  Employees serve as assets for an organization but when they are stressed, undesirable circumstances such as increased absenteeism, low productivity, low motivation and usually legal and financial damages emerge (Ambika, 2015:55). Stress  in an organization affects both the individual  and the organization  individuals  can be  affected  at the physiological,  affective and behavioural  levels  and in their  leisure time and family life. Stress affects individuals and organizations within different time frames. Stress reactions can occur immediately (short-term reactions) and or may take longer time to develop (Long –term reactions).
    In the words of Bewell (2015:86), productivity of a business manager is a point of concern for all the organizations. When  a business  manager is productive, there  is every tendency that he will carry the employees along and they  will be productive, but  when a business  managed  is not  productive, the employees  will be adversely  affected. Therefore, management of stress of a business manager is an importance factor that should not be overlooked. Okeke (2014:95), posits  that some of the strategies used in managing stress  include; introducing  resilience  training programmes  where coaching is provided on a range of topics, such as mental  awareness, developing an exercise routine, getting sufficient sleep, learning how to identify causes of stress and  discovering how to keep calm and maintain control, during  times of difficulties.  Other strategies include, modernizing human resource policies. Certain aspects, such as allowing for greater flexibility at work, and improving on feedback management are instrumental in alleviating the stress faced by both managers and employees.
Furthermore, organizations as well as  their  workers have been facing hardship for some time, considering that  employers of labour are not adhering to the international labour  organizations protocol which posits  that  employees of labour should initiate a stress management policy that will not only enhance the effectiveness and productivity of their organizations, but will boost their morale at work and make them healthier. Therefore, this study will examine effect of moderate stress on the productivity of a business manager with Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited as a case study.
1.2    Statement of the Problem
    Stress can be managed in an organization through the individual approach like relaxation, walking, riding bicycles, attending aerobic classes, practising yoga, jogging etc. This is because when employees relax the response for stress will be reserved in the human mind-body system. Individuals can reduce tension through relaxation techniques such as meditation, hypnosis and biofeedback. The objective  is to reach a state of deep  relaxation  in which the employee  feels physically relaxed,  some  what  detached from  the immediate environment and  detached from  the body sensations. Stress can also be managed through opening up.  A healthy response to this moments or periods of personal crisis is to confide in others.
    The effect of not managing stress in an organization is that it could lead to decline in performance, dissatisfaction, lack of motivation and commitment and an increase in absenteeism and turnover.
    The effect of stress if it is not managed in an organization is that it could lead to decline in performance, motivation and commitment on the part of the employees.
1.3    Objectives of the Study
    The broad objective of the study is to examine effect of moderate stress on the productivity of a business manager.  However, the specific objectives include to:
1.    Find out the extent moderate stress has affected the productivity of a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited.
2.    Examine the causes of moderate stress in a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited.  
3.    Determine ways of managing moderate stress in a business       manager in  Innoson Technical  and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited.
4.    Ascertain whether moderate stress could have varied effect on a business manager
1.4    Research Questions
    Based on the objectives of the study, the following research questions were raised
1.    To what extent has moderate stress affected the productivity of a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited?
2.    What are the causes of moderate stress on a business manager in Innosson Technical and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited?
3.    Are there ways of managing moderate stress by a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited?
4.    Could moderate stress have varied effect on a business manager?
1.5    Statement of Hypotheses
    Based on the research questions, the following hypotheses were formulated.
Hypothesis one
Ho:     Moderate stress has not affected the productivity of a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited to a large extent
H1:     Moderate stress has affected the productivity of a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited to a large extent.
Hypothesis Two  
H0:     There are no causes of moderate stress in a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited.
H1:     There are causes of moderate stress in a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Nigeria Limited.
Hypothesis Three
H0:    There are no ways of managing moderate stress in a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited.
H1:    There are ways of managing moderate stress in a business manager in Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited.
Hypothesis Four
Ho:     Moderate stress could not have varied effect on a business manager.
H1:     Moderate stress could have varied effect on a business manager.
1.6    Significance of the Study
    This research work will be beneficial to the business managers because through the findings of this work they will be able to manage moderate stress, leading to increase in productivity.
    The general public will benefit because it will lead to job creation. The researcher will benefit because it is a partial, requirement for the award of a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) Degree in Business Administration.
    The University will benefit because the research work increase its data bank, finally, the research work saves as reference material for further research on this topic.
1.7    Scope of the Study
    This research work covered the extent moderate stress has affected the productivity of a business manager, the causes of moderate stress, ways of managing moderate stress and whether moderate stress could have varied effect on a business manager. The organization covered was Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited Enugu at Plot W/L Emene Industrial Layout Emene in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. The time scope is between 2015-2017.    
1.8    Limitations of the Study
    The researcher encountered some impediments in the course  of carrying out  this research work.  Among them were time, finance and uncooperative attitude of respondents.
Time: This was my biggest challenge, as the researcher had to cope with going to lectures, cooking for self along with other activities.
Finance: There was insufficient fund to carry out all that was supposed to be done
Uncooperative attitude of respondents: The respondents of Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited were economical with information.
1.9    Operational Definition of Terms
Stress: This can be defined as a persons adaptive response to a stimulus that places physical and psychological demand on the person
Productivity: This is the actual ratio of input to output of any work organization