Organizational Behavior
1
CHAPTER
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Organizational Behavior and Opportunity
L E A R N I N G
O U T C O M E S
4 Describe the formal and informal elements of an organization. 5 Understand the diversity of organizations in the economy. 6 Evaluate the opportunities that change creates for organizational behavior.
After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following: 1 Define organizational behavior. 2 Identify four action steps for responding positively in times of change. 3 Identify the important system components of an organization.
ORGB_01_Ch01_2-015.indd 2
1/23/08 12:36:23 PM
“
Organizations have been described as clockworks, but they often seem like snake pits.
”
LEARNING OUTCOME 1
Human Behavior in Organizations
Human behavior in organizations is complex and often difficult to understand. Organizations have been described as clockworks in which human behavior is logical and rational, but they often seem like snake pits to those who work in them.1 The clockwork metaphor reflects an orderly, idealized view of organizational behavior devoid of conflict or dilemma because all the working parts (the people) mesh smoothly. The snake pit metaphor conveys the daily conflict, distress, and struggle in organizations. Each metaphor reflects reality from a different perspective—the organization’s versus the individual’s point of view. These metaphors reflect the complexity of human behavior, the dark side of which is seen in cases of air rage and workplace violence. On the positive side, the Gallup Organization’s Marcus Buckingham suggests that people’s psychological makeup is at the heart of the emotional economy.2 This chapter introduces organizational behavior. The first section provides an overview of human behavior in organizations, its interdisciplinary origins, and behavior in times of change. The second section presents an organizational context within which behavior occurs and briefly introduces the six focus companies used
CHAPTER
>>
Organizational Behavior and Opportunity
L E A R N I N G
O U T C O M E S
4 Describe the formal and informal elements of an organization. 5 Understand the diversity of organizations in the economy. 6 Evaluate the opportunities that change creates for organizational behavior.
After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following: 1 Define organizational behavior. 2 Identify four action steps for responding positively in times of change. 3 Identify the important system components of an organization.
ORGB_01_Ch01_2-015.indd 2
1/23/08 12:36:23 PM
“
Organizations have been described as clockworks, but they often seem like snake pits.
”
LEARNING OUTCOME 1
Human Behavior in Organizations
Human behavior in organizations is complex and often difficult to understand. Organizations have been described as clockworks in which human behavior is logical and rational, but they often seem like snake pits to those who work in them.1 The clockwork metaphor reflects an orderly, idealized view of organizational behavior devoid of conflict or dilemma because all the working parts (the people) mesh smoothly. The snake pit metaphor conveys the daily conflict, distress, and struggle in organizations. Each metaphor reflects reality from a different perspective—the organization’s versus the individual’s point of view. These metaphors reflect the complexity of human behavior, the dark side of which is seen in cases of air rage and workplace violence. On the positive side, the Gallup Organization’s Marcus Buckingham suggests that people’s psychological makeup is at the heart of the emotional economy.2 This chapter introduces organizational behavior. The first section provides an overview of human behavior in organizations, its interdisciplinary origins, and behavior in times of change. The second section presents an organizational context within which behavior occurs and briefly introduces the six focus companies used