Question

Question 4

Maame is a mother of two and the CEO of Hilly Manufacturing company Limited, a rice production company located in Kumasi. She has a very demanding husband who holds the traditional view of marriage where he expects his wife to perform all house chores and other roles.

She has fourteen male workers and ten female workers. The male workers always struggle with Maame on various matters because they think she is a woman who should not be controlling them whiles the female workers have described her as harsh, wicked and has no feelings for her fellow women.

Maame’s situation is getting worse with the current economic situation in the country. The constant power outages have forced her to go for a loan of Ghc100,000 to buy a plant to support the business. Unfortunately, sales are drastically dwindling because the corona virus threat is locking up people in their houses and the bank is on her neck for payment of the loan.

Matters came to a head when Maame’s husband filed for a divorce because his wife does not have time for him and the children. Currently the case in still in court even though Maame has pleaded with her husband and family to give her another chance. Unfortunately, Maame cannot get her mother’s assistance because she is in the mortuary yet to be buried two weeks from now.

The woman is under enormous pressure and has consulted you as an expert for advice.

1. Analyze the various sources of stress for Maame looking at her situation as described above.

2. Select each of the sources of stress you will discuss at (a) and evaluate the types of stress the source is creating for Maame

3. Haven identified the causes and types of stress she is experiencing, select each of the sources and types and recommend the appropriate stress management technique at individual level and organizational level.

Answer 1

ANS 1. THE SOURCES OF STRESS ARE: HER HUSBAND, WORKERS IN THE ORGANISATION ( BOTH MALES AND FEMALES) , COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC SITUATION, THE CORONA VIRUS SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY, BANK, MOTHER.

ANS 2. TYPES OF STRESSES:

• FROM HUSBAND: ACUTE STRESS BECAUSE OF HIS TRADITIONAL VIEWS AND HE HAS FILED COMPLAINT.
• FROM WORKERS: EPISODIC STRESS THAT CAN BE DEALT WITH. THE STRESS IS THAT MALE WORKERS THINK THAT WOMAN SHOULD NOT CONTROL THEM AND FEMALE WORKERS THINK SHE DONOT HAVE ANY FEELINGS.
• FROM COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC SITUATION: CHRONIC STRESS BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF CONTROL OF HER. POWER OUTAGES FORCED GHER TO GO FOR A LOAN.
• FROM CORONA VIRUS: CHRONIC STRESS BECAUSE IT IS LOCKING PEOPLE IN HOUSE.
• FROM BANK : EPISODIC STRESS BECAUSE OF REPAYMENT OF LOAN.
• FROM MOTHER: CHRONIC STRESS BECAUSE SHE CANNOT DISCUSS THINGS WITH MOTHER.

ANS 3. STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES:

• STRESS FROM HUSBAND: SHE SHOULD DISCUSS THINGS WITH HUSBAND AND SHOULD LEAVE HER JOB IF REQUIRED, MANAGE THE TIME SO THAT ADEQUATE TIME IS GIVEN TO CHILDREN AND HOME.
• STRESS FROM WORKERS: TALK TO THEM AND CONVINCE THEM WITH POSITIVE EXPRESSIONS. PROVIDE THEM WHAT THEY SEEK FROM HER.
• STRESS FROM COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC CONDITION AND CORONAVIRUS: THINK STRATEGICALLY AND APPOINT EXPERTS TO HANDLE THE FINANCES.
• STRESS FROM BANK: ARRANGE THE PAYMENT TO BE PAID TO BANK OR GET EXTENSIONS FROM BANK.
• STRESS FROM MOTHER: DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH SOME FRIEND OR RELATIVE INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT LOSS OF MOTHER.