In construction projects, a Stress Management Model
for estimators can be established based on the system theory (Checkland
1996), psychological stress (Yerkes
and Dodson 1908; Lazarus and Folkamn 1984; Weatherley and Irit 1996),
organizational behavior (Locke and Latham 1990) and the value management
cyclical process (Leung and Liu 1998; Liu and Leung 2002). This model
is shown in Figure 2 (refer to Leung and Lam 2002; Leung 2003b; Leung
Olomolaiye, Chong and Lam 2004).
Stressors related to the person (estimator), the task (job) and the environment (firm) affect stress as well as the estimators coping behaviour in the estimating/bidding processes. The estimators coping behaviour with regard to stress (problem- or emotion-focused) subsequently influences the estimating performance and the final project success. Once the person, task and environmental stressors are managed well and the appropriate coping behaviours (problem- or emotion-focused) are applied in the estimating process, a competitive tendering cost will be obtained with profitability for the construction company.
Each project estimator’s judgment of the proposed building (an object) is affected by two variables: person (self) and environment. The study indicates that all stressors, except for work underload, have a positive relationship to the stress of estimators (Leung, Skitmore, Ng and Cheung 2004). The amount of work overload (x1), the specificity of tasks (x2), the identification of the estimating role (x3) and the physical working environment (x4) are the independent stressors to predict the level of stress of estimators in construction projects (stress = -27.276 + 0.886x1 + 0.463x2 + 0.693x3 + 0.787x4; r = 0.738, r2 = 0.545). Furthermore, the results also reveal that stress has either an inverted U-shaped relationship or a negative linear relationship to various estimating performance outcomes (Leung, Olomolaiye, Chong and Lam 2004). A separate model of the impact of stress in the estimating process has been established for optimizing estimating performance (person, task and organization) by the regression model and the structural equation model.
The coping behaviours of estimators are split into two main types: (1) problem-coping: focusing on task situations or problem-solving (i.e. direct and controlled action, instrumental support seeking and preparatory action); and (2) emotion-coping: dealing with emotional or anxiety reactions (i.e., escape, emotional discharge and religious support) (see Figure 1; Leung 2003b; Leung, Wong, Oloke 2003; Leung, Wong and Skitmore 2004). Estimators with different levels of working experience have different ways to cope with stress. Senior estimators normally apply problem-focused coping behaviours to alleviate the stress they encounter in their jobs (r = 0.522*), while junior estimators with limited working experience prefer to seek emotional support, like from their religion (r =0.902**) to relieve stress. The current studies (Stressor–Stress; Stress–Performance; Stress–iCP) support the established integrated individual stress management model (Stressor–Stress–iCP–Performance/Outcome) for managing the stress and optimizing the performance of estimators in the tendering process.
