Exploring the Relationships Between a Toxic Workplace Environment, Workplace Stress, and Project Success with the Moderating Effect of Organizational Support: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

• Main Authors: Wang Z, Zaman S, Rasool SF, Zaman Q, Amin A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-08-01
• Series: Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
• Subjects: toxic workplace environment; workplace stress; organizational support; project success
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/exploring-the-relationships-between-a-toxic-workplace-environment-work-peer-reviewed-article-RMHP

Zilong Wang,1,* Shah Zaman,1,* Samma Faiz Rasool,2,* Qamar uz Zaman,1,* Asad Amin3,* 1College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Institute, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, People’s Republic of China; 3Business School, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shah ZamanCollege of Economics and Management,Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [e-mail] Faiz RasoolSchool of Innovation and Entrepreneurship,Entrepreneurship Institute,Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [e-mail]: Researchers have shown great interest in the relationships among a toxic workplace environment, workplace stress, and project success, which have led to an expansive body of research on the topic. In light of this work, the current study explores the effects of a toxic workplace environment (TWE) and workplace stress (WS) as determinants of project success in the renewable energy projects of Pakistan. Based on the resource-based view (RBV) theory, the study proposes and tests a model with organizational support as a moderating variable.Research Methodology: A 30-item questionnaire survey was administered among staff of ten renewable energy project companies located in the vicinity of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad (Pakistan). The target population was senior managers, middle-level managers, and administrative staff. Structural equation modelling was used to estimate the predictive power of the model.Results: A toxic workplace environment was found to have negative relationships with project success and workplace stress. Organizational support served as a moderator in the relationship between a toxic workplace environment and workplace stress and thus contributed to the success of a project.Conclusion: Toxic workplace environment and the resulting workplace stress have a negative effect on project success. Projects undertaken in the energy sector have tight deadlines, which create stress that leads to a range of mental and physical health problems. Workers facing these problems can ultimately suffer from such diseases as depression, anxiety, and insomnia. These issues lower morale and, thus, negatively affect productivity. The provision of organizational support can mitigate the negative effects.Keywords: toxic workplace environment, workplace stress, organizational support, project success