An Introduction to Organizational Behavior

An Introduction to Organizational Behavior

1. Define organizational behavior (OB) and explain its roots
- a field of study that seeks to understand, explain, predict and change human behavior, both individual and collective, in the organizational context
- includes 3 levels
 individual: employee motivation and perception
 group: teams, communication, job design, and leadership
 organization-wide: change, culture and organizational structure
 interorganizational (network): outsourcing, organizational networks, strategic alliances and mergers
- interdisciplinary roots
 psychology: work teams, work motivation, training and development. Power and leadership, human resource planning, and workplace wellness
 sociology: group and intergroup dynamics, roles, norms and standards of behavior that emerge within groups, compliant and deviant behavior, effects of codes of ethics in organizations
 engineering: design of work, efficiency, performance standards, productivity, and goal-setting, includes scientific management
 anthropology: organizational culture, origins of culture, patterns of behavior
 administrative science (management): design, implementation, and management of various administrative and organizational systems

2. Explain the relationship of OB to the study of management
- organizations are groups of people who work interdependently toward some common purpose whereas managers are the people in organizations who perform jobs that involve the direct supervision of other people
- the study of OB explores managerial roles and challenges as they relate to the management of an organization’s human resources
- functions of managers
 planning: define goals that flow from the business strategy, set performance objectives, and create action plans
 organizing: divide up the tasks and establish work roles or department
 leading: communicate, motivate, and manage conflict
 controlling: monitor financial and human performance
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