Probability Theory and Extra-Sensory Perception

This article reports the results of a study into the components of stress in organizations. For a sample of 113 Canadian, all male, upper-middle managers, the data were analyzed by item comparisons, factor analysis, and cluster analysis. Work Load was found to be a frequent source of stress for many managers. Factor analysis resulted in stress factors labelled Work Load, Organization Structure and Design, Management Responsibility, and Communication and Interpersonal Interaction. Cluster analysis yielded five groups of individuals with different stress frequency patterns. These groups were labelled Organization Centered, Achievement Centered, Ambiguity Centered, Equalization Centered, and Self-Actualization Centered. The study also revealed that, in this sample, managerial perceptions of stress were not significantly related to age, level of education, or type of industry.