Organizational Behavior

Organizational behavior
(OB)
A field of study that
investigates the impact that
individuals, groups, and
structure have on behavior
within organizations, for the
purpose of applying such
knowledge toward improving
an organizations effectiveness.
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Replacing Intuition with

Systematic Study
Intuition
A feeling not necessarily supported by research.

Systematic study
Looking at relationships, attempting to attribute
causes and effects, and drawing conclusions based
on scientific evidence.
Provides a means to predict behaviors.

Nature of Organizational Behavior

Environment

Human Behavior in
Organizational settings

The individualOrganization interface

The Organization

Environment
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Foundations of Organizational
Behavior
Individual
Differences

Social
Systems

Whole Individual
OB

Mutuality of
Interests

Caused
behavior

Human dignity

Holistic
Concept
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Importance of Organizational
Behavior
To provide a roadmap to the life of an individual in an
organization.
The field of OB uses scientific research in order to help
to understand & predict organizational life.
OB helps to influence organizational events.

OB helps an individual to understand himself/herself and

others better.
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Importance of Organizational
Behavior
A manager in a business organization is concerned with
getting things done through delegation, knowledge of OB
facilitates effective management of the same.
The field of OB is useful for maintaining cordial IR.
The subject of OB is also useful to understand the
behavior of the consumers (Consumer Behavior).
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The Basic Process of Organizational

Behavior

Understanding

How Strong are

They?

How do they
Interrelate?

Prediction
What patterns of
Behavior are
present?

What is the causeeffect

relationship?

Understanding
What solutions are
possible?

Which variables
can be
influenced?

Problem prevention
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A Social Learning Approach To

Organizational Behavior
ORGANIZATIONAL
PARTICIPANTS

Cognitive
representations of
reality help guide
organizational behavior

ORGANIZATIONAL
BEHAVIOR

Participants control their

own behavior to the
extent that they rely
on cognitive supports and
manage relevant environmental
cues and consequences

Much of complex behavior

is acquired by directly
observing and imitating
others in the surrounding
environment

ORGANIZATIONAL
ENVIRONMENT
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Toward an OB
Discipline

E X H I B I T 13

Contributing Disciplines to the

OB Field
Psychology

The science that seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes

change the behavior of humans and other animals.

E X H I B I T 13 (contd)

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Contributing Disciplines to the OB

Field
Sociology
The study of people in relation to their fellow human beings.

E X H I B I T 13 (contd)

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Contributing Disciplines to the OB

Field
Social Psychology
An area within psychology that blends concepts from psychology
and sociology and that focuses on the influence of people on one
another.

E X H I B I T 13 (contd)

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Contributing Disciplines to the OB

Field
Anthropology
The study of societies to learn about human beings and their
activities.

E X H I B I T 13 (contd)

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Contributing Disciplines to the OB

Field
Political Science
The study of the behavior of individuals and groups
within a political environment.

E X H I B I T 13 (contd)

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Challenges and Opportunities for OB

Responding to Globalization
Increased foreign assignments
Working with people from different cultures
Coping with anti-capitalism backlash
Overseeing movement of jobs to countries with lowcost labor
Managing Workforce Diversity
Embracing diversity
Changing U.S. demographics
Implications for managers
Recognizing and responding to differences
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Major Workforce Diversity

Categories
Gender

National
Origin

Disability
Age

SC/ST/OBC
Race
ExDefense/Para
military
personnel
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Challenges and Opportunities for OB

Improving Quality and Productivity
Quality management (QM)
Process reengineering
Responding to the Labor Shortage
Changing work force demographics
Fewer skilled laborers
Early retirements and older workers
Improving Customer Service
Increased expectation of service quality
Customer-responsive cultures
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Challenges and Opportunity for OB

Improving People Skills
Empowering People
Stimulating Innovation and Change
Coping with Temporariness
Working in Networked Organizations
Helping Employees Balance Work/Life Conflicts

Improving Ethical Behavior

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