How Palestinian managers cope with stress

Khoury, G. & Analoui, F. (2010). Journal of Management Development, Vol. 29, No.3, 282- 291.

Available at: www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/02621711011025795

Grace Khoury

Birzeit University, Palestine, and

Farhad Analoui

Department of Development and Economic Studies. University of Bradford,

Bradford, UK

Abstract

Purpose - The main purpose of this paper is to identify the primary and crucial stressors that Palestinian employees encounter, and in turn design appropriate stress management and prevention strategies that will promote healthy organizations.

Design/methodology/approach - A survey questionnaire was utilized for collecting data from 400 originations (response rate 77 percent). SPSS (version 12) was used mainly for paired samples t-test after transforming and recoding the personality type scale to the same format of the work environment conditions. The Cronbach's alpha test was used for questions 13, 14 to ensure the reliability.

Findings - The differences in employees' personality types, and their stress coping styles, are the primary stressors. Palestinian personality type A, a major factor, largely influenced by living conditions. Employees in the private sector experience more stress than those in public or NGO sectors.

Prevention strategies are needed to improve coping skills against the demanding conditions.

Practical implications - Prevention strategies are needed to focus on the employees and improve their coping skills against the demanding conditions through initiatives such as employee assistance programs (EAPs). At a national level, collaboration among industry, labor, universities and ministries is needed to form an occupational health and safety institute to conduct research and monitor the stress in private and public organizations.

Originality/value - This is one of the first empirical studies of organizational stress and prevention strategies in Palestinian organizations. It is valuable to researchers, senior managers, and policy developers for managerial and organizational development in developing countries and conflict regions.

 

Methodological Approach for Reading Urban Open Space

Manal A. Al-Bishawi (Corresponding Author),  mbishawi@birzeit.edu
Shadi  Sami Ghadban, sghadban@birzeit.edu
Architectural Engineering Department
Faculty of  Engineering, Birzeit University,

ABSTRACT
This paper suggests a methodological approach for reading and analyzing urban open spaces, based on the concept of behavioral setting that deals with the individuals and their behavior as a tool for reading the urban open space. The behavioral setting is defined as the smallest living entity in the physical environment and    has three main components: physical (design), social (use) and cultural one (rules).  Based on that, the urban open space, as a part of the physical environment, can be considered as one setting or a system of settings according to the activities that take place within it and the users who occupy it.
The proposed methodological approach will be discussed through theoretical analyses of different studies on the physical form of urban open spaces. The approach is expected to help planners and architects in developing and providing urban spaces that comply with people's needs and values.