Abstract:
The rapid growth of Sri Lanka’s software development industry has brought
significant economic benefits but has also raised concerns about employees’ well being. A major issue is job stress arising from the monotonous nature of computer related work, including repetitive tasks such as coding, debugging, testing, and data
handling. These tasks demand sustained cognitive effort with minimal variation, often
leading to psychological fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and reduced job satisfaction.
This study examines the influence of three dimensions of monotonous work -
psychological factors, task complexity, and workload - on job stress among software
development employees in Sri Lanka. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was
employed, using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire to assess stress perceptions,
task demands, and workload intensity. Data were collected from 381 employees
across the top 10 software development companies through quota sampling to ensure
proper representation. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple
regression were applied to analyse relationships between the independent variables
and job-related stress. Findings indicate that all three dimensions significantly
contribute to job stress. Psychological factors, including anxiety, emotional
regulation difficulties, and limited social support, were particularly influential. Task
complexity - including multitasking, role conflict, and decision-making pressures -
was a strong contributor to job stress. Heavy workload with strict deadlines further
increased job stress. The study recommends organizational strategies such as
promoting work-life balance, implementing stress management programs, enabling
flexible work arrangements, and fostering supportive environments to reduce stress,
enhance employee well-being, and improve retention in Sri Lanka’s IT sector.
