Question

I/O Psych discusses role ambiguity, role conflict, and role overload as major occupational stressors, and research shows that clarification of job duties is critical in minimizing these stressors. Do you think it would help if applicants knew exactly what they would be doing when they were hired? How might this have effected recruitment?

Answer 1

Role ambiguity is the situation in which an employee is not sure about his/her position, duties, responsibilities and extent of power in an organization.

Role conflict is the situation which the employee experiences when his/her roles are unclear with no appropriate definition, when his/her values or morals do not match the work and when educational qualification/training is not the same or has no relation with the work that he/she has to perform.

Role overload is a situation which occurs when employees have a lot of duties, responsibilities to do in an organization. Many a times, they find it difficult to manage their work as a result of role overload. This increases their occupational stress.

Role ambiguity, role conflict and role overload are all major occupational stressors. If applicants knew exactly what they would be doing E.g. what is their exact work profile, position in an organization (E.g. team leader, senior executive, peon), duties, roles (if there is more than one role), and responsibilities, it would have helped them function well, plan their day-to-day duties, prepare a schedule, set goals and achieve their targets in an organization. It would also reduce their occupational stress which plays an important role in their work motivation, performance, as well as physical and mental health.