Starbucks Stress Management: A Conservation of Resources Analysis

This report provides an analysis of stress management at Starbucks, a leading coffee company, using the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory. It explains the COR theory, its basic principles, and its implications for managing employee stress within the organization. The report reflects on the relevance of the COR theory in addressing work-related stress, highlighting how Starbucks utilizes this model to identify and mitigate work conflicts, address family-level stress, and foster a positive work environment. The analysis covers strategies such as employee involvement, manager support, and job autonomy, aimed at improving employee morale and reducing anxiety. The report concludes that while COR theory is valuable, exploring additional stress management theories could further enhance the company's approach to employee well-being. Desklib provides a platform for students to access this and other solved assignments.

Report 1
Stress Management: Starbucks

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Analysis...........................................................................................................................................4
Conservation of resources (COR) theory.....................................................................................4
Implication of Conservation of resources theory in Starbucks....................................................5
Reflective.........................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8

Report 3
Introduction
Today, the work related stress has been acknowledged as one of the global challenges not only
for the workers but also for the organizations Studies have shown that stress adds to the
organizations’ cost on individual health and their well-being along with hampering the overall
organizational productivity. Therefore, it is important for every organization to design effective
strategies for confronting with the work related stress among the employees, and motivating
them. In this context, this report is designed to provide an analysis of stress management in the
workplace for the chosen organization, Starbucks which is one of the leading Coffee companies
across the world. The report also discusses the reflective on the relevance of ‘Conservation of
resources theory’ applied and its implications in the company for managing the stress of
employees.

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Analysis
Conservation of resources (COR) theory
Conservation of Resources theory is a stress management model introduced in 1989 by Dr.
Stevan E. Hobfoll. COR theory is also known as a motivational theory that illustrates human
behavior on the basis of evolutionary need to get and save resources for the sustainability. This
theory states that stress in workplace usually arises in three situations (Wendling et al., 2018).
Firstly when there exists a risk of loss of resources, a scarcity of obtained resources, and a net
loss of resources, with respect to the utilization of resources. These three instances of resources
have the ability to push individuals towards the stress. In this regard, resources are described as
those things which are valued, and stated for the attainment of organizational goals.
Basic principles of COR
COR basically works on two principles based on the keeping of resources from being lost. The
first principle of COR theory is that loss of resources is unreasonably more valued than gain of
resources. These resources in context of workplace include object resources such as tools for
work. The condition resources include job, tenure, and superiority. The personal resources
include knowledge & talent. The personal characterstics include self-confidence and positivism
while the energy resources cover money, talent and credit. The uneven effect of resource loss in
comparison to resource gain is defined in the much broader effect of resources loss, while the
pace of that impact and the time remains significant (Hobfoll et al., 2018). Another principle of
COR theory is that individuals should invest resources for protecting from resource loss, and
gaining resources. This needs direct substitution of resources, like paying for lost profits from

Report 5
savings, and indirect investment of resources by enhancing employees’ abilities to deal with and
survive in a challenging business environment (Mone, and London, 2018). On the other hand, the
first principle of COR requires expertise is enhanced to balance the loss of likely earnings if
profits are not generated.
Implication of Conservation of Resources theory in Starbucks
Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory is applied by the managers in Starbucks in order to
deal with the stress levels confronted by its employees in work related situations. Using this
model of stress management, the HR manager in the organization identifies the work conflicts
among the employees due to which they are not able to perform their jobs with energy and
enthusiasm (Jin et al., 2018). As a result, the organization is sometimes required to invest more
of its resources to improve the work role due to the fear of losing its top people.
Moreover, the COR model is also used by Starbucks to recognize the stress level of employees
on their family level, and to manage any loss likely to occur causing negative impact on the
health of employees. The human resource manager also designs new strategies to reduce the
anxiety and depression in staff members, and to motivate them for their increased job morale and
happiness at work. COR model is thus, also used by the organization to assess the behavior of
employees (such as their planning to run off from work) in order to know whether they are in
stress. This is done to substitute or protect the useful resources from being lost (Venz et al.,
2018). For the purpose, the company creates a positive, pleasing and enthusiastic work culture
for employees by encouraging employee involvement and developing a sense of effective
relations with them. This is mainly ensured through employees’ performance opinion, manager
support, and job autonomy, along with the personal resources such as improving confidence and
self-esteem.

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Reflective
From the above analysis, I have reflected that stress is one of the key issues adversely affecting
human relations not only in personal lives but also in their professional lives. Work related stress
among employees can be a result of their poor relations with the supervisors or co-workers,
lower pay and excess work load, lack of flexibility, job insecurity, and tight deadlines. This
stress makes the individuals, inefficient, unhappy and inactive due to which their physical and
mental health goes down, and the organization suffers low productivity and losses.
I have learnt that in order to manage and reduce this stress, organizations are required to apply
stress management theories. Conservation of Resources (COR) model is one of these theories
discussed above, which is used by Starbucks. It seems that the organization uses this theory in an
apt way in order to motivate its employees and make them happy at work (Kong. and Ho, 2018).
However, I think that the company should explore more stress management theories so as to
remove the weakness of COR theory. However, when applied to the stress in work-family
clashes, COR theory makes it difficult for the users to generalize the accurate results.
Sometimes, this model can act as coping technique to lessen the resource loss.

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Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be stated that every organization needs to design a suitable stress
management model in the workplace. This is important not only to increase employees’
performance but also necessary for the organization to stay competitive in the market. COR
theory is an integrated mechanism of stress that takes in different aspects related to work and
family. Starbucks applies this theory and achieves successful results.

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References
Wendling, E., Kellison, T.B. and Sagas, M. (2018) A Conceptual Examination of College
Athletes’ Role Conflict Through the Lens of Conservation of Resources Theory, Quest, 70(1),
pp.28-47.
Hobfoll, S.E., Halbesleben, J., Neveu, J.P. and Westman, M. (2018) Conservation of resources in
the organizational context: The reality of resources and their consequences, Annual Review of
Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 5(1), pp.103-128.
Kong, D.T. and Ho, V.T. (2018) The performance implication of obsessive work passion:
unpacking the moderating and mediating mechanisms from a conservation of resources
perspective, European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 27(2), pp.269-279.
Venz, L., Pundt, A. and Sonnentag, S. (2018) What matters for work engagement? A diary study
on resources and the benefits of selective optimization with compensation for state work
engagement, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 39(1), pp.26-38.
Jin, M.H., McDonald, B. and Park, J. (2018) Person–organization fit and turnover intention:
Exploring the mediating role of employee followership and job satisfaction through conservation
of resources theory, Review of Public Personnel Administration, 38(2), pp.167-192.
Mone, E.M. and London, M. (2018) Employee engagement through effective performance
management: A practical guide for managers. UK: Routledge.