Relationships Between Project Cost, Project Team Member Role, Project Schedule, and Burnou

Employees affected by burnout syndrome often experience reduced engagement and decreased job performance, costing their organizations through lost productivity and profit. However, it is not clear what causes employee burnout in working environments. The purpose of this correlation study was to examine the relationships between project cost, project team member role, project schedule, and project team member burnout. This study was grounded in the job demands-resources theory, which states that all employees experience demands in their work that may lead to long-term stress and eventually burnout syndrome if these demands are not mitigated by job resources. The population for this study consisted of project management team members located in the Southern United States. The research question for this study examined the relationships among project cost, project team member role, project schedule, and burnout of project team members. A survey provided the data for analysis (N = 159). Study data were evaluated using correlational analysis. Multiple linear regression results indicated no significant relationships existed between project cost, project team member role, project schedule, and the 3 constructs of burnout syndrome: cynicism, exhaustion, and professional efficacy. This study may contribute to social change by increasing awareness of what contributes to employee burnout. This research is relevant to project management team members and business leaders. Burnout leads to reduced employee engagement, lost profit for the business, and health impairment for burned out employees. Project teams and business leaders would benefit by incorporating information from this study in programs designed to reduce, mitigate, or eliminate burnout among project management personnel.