INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

DIFFERENT MODELS OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

Q1. What do you mean by Organizational Behavior or Define Organizational Behavior.

Organizational Behavior (OB) is the study of human behavior in organizational settings, the
interface between human behavior and the organization, and the organization itself.
Organizational Behavior researchers study the behavior of individuals primarily in their
organizational roles.
One of the main goals of organizational behavior is to revitalize organizational theory and
develop a better conceptualization of organizational life.
“Organizational behavior is directly concerned with the understanding, prediction, and control of
human behavior in organizations.” — Fred Luthans.
Organizational behavior is the study of both group and individual performance and activity
within an organization.

Q2. What are the features/characteristics of Organizational behavior?

1. A Separate Field of Study and not a Discipline Only.

By definition, a discipline is an accepted science that is based on a theoretical foundation.

But, OB has a multi-interdisciplinary orientation and is, thus, not based on a specific
theoretical background. Therefore, it is better to reason to call OB a separate field of study
rather than a discipline only.

2. An Interdisciplinary Approach.

Organizational behavior is essentially an interdisciplinary approach to study human behavior

at work.
It tries to integrate the relevant knowledge drawn from related disciplines like psychology,
sociology, and anthropology to make them applicable for studying and analyzing
organizational behavior.

3. Applied Science.

The very nature of OB is applied. What OB basically does is the application of various
research to solve the organizational problems related to human behavior.
The basic line of difference between pure science and OB is that while the former
concentrates of fundamental research, the latter concentrates on applied research.
OB involves both applied research and its application in organizational analysis. Hence, OB
can be called both science as well as art.
4. A Normative Science.

Organizational Behavior is a normative science also. While the positive science discusses the
only cause-effect relationship, OB prescribes how the findings of applied research can be
applied to socially accepted organizational goals.
Thus, OB deals with what is accepted by individuals and society engaged in an organization.
Yes, it is not that OB is not normative at all.
In fact, OB is normative as well that is well underscored by the proliferation of management
theories.

5. A Humanistic and Optimistic Approach.

Organizational Behavior applies a humanistic approach towards people working in the

organization. It deals with the thinking and feeling of human beings. OB is based on the
belief that people have an innate desire to be independent, creative and productive.
It also realizes that people working in the organization can and will actualize these potentials
if they are given proper conditions and environment. Environment affects performance or
workers working in an organization.

6. A Total System Approach.

The system approach is one that integrates all the variables, affecting organizational
functioning.
The systems approach has been developed by the behavioral scientists to analyze human
behavior in view of his/her socio-psychological framework.
Man’s socio-psychological framework makes the man a complex one and the systems
approach tries to study his/her complexity and find a solution to it.

Q3. What are the objectives/scope of Organizational Behavior?

1. Job Satisfaction
2. Finding the Right People
3. Organizational Culture
4. Leadership and Conflict Resolution
5. Understanding the Employees Better
6. Understand how to Develop Good Leaders
7. Develop a Good Team
8. Higher Productivity

Q4. What are the Fundamental Concepts of Organizational Behavior?

 Individual Differences.
 Perception.
 A whole Person.
 Motivated Behavior.
 The desire for Involvement.
 The value of the Person.
 Human Dignity.
 Organizations are Social System.
 Mutuality of Interest.
 Holistic Concept.

Q5. What are the Main Challenges and Opportunities of Organizational Behavior?

1. Improving Peoples’ Skills.

2. Improving Quality and Productivity.
3. Total Quality Management (TQM).
4. Managing Workforce Diversity.
5. Responding to Globalization.
6. Empowering People.
7. Coping with Temporariness.
8. Stimulating Innovation and Change.
9. Emergence of E-Organisation & E-Commerce.
10. Improving Ethical Behavior.
11. Improving Customer Service.
12. Helping Employees Balance Work-Life Conflicts.
13. Flattening World.

Q6.What are the Limitations of organizational Behavior?

1. Behavioral bias: It further causes dependence, dis-contentment, indiscipline, and

irresponsibility.
2. Law of diminishing returns: It says that beyond a certain point, there is a decline in
output even after each additional good or positive factor.
3. Unethical practices and manipulation of people: Knowledge of motivation and
communication acquired can be used to exploit subordinates in an Organization by the
manipulative managers.

Q7. What are The Fundamental Aspects Of Organizational Behavior? Or what are the key
factors affecting Organizational Behavior? [Past Year Question]
There are various aspects of Organizational Behavior which it has to deal with, to know the soul
of particular Organization. Below mentioned are some of the fundamental aspects of
Organizational Behavior-
1) People: This element is the soul of the Organization because people work to achieve the target
of Organization and Organization works to fulfill the needs of individual or group of individuals.
The word ‘people’ can be anyone who is working inside the Organization, like employees or any
external person like supplier, customer, auditor, or any government official.
2) Structure: It is the body of the Organization which is to be taken care of to bring coordination
between different levels of Organization, because Organization does not work aloof and is
dependent on people which again work on the concept of division of labor. So, there is always a
hierarchy in Organization which if not properly dealt with can mess the system because of nil
scrutiny and flow of control.
3) Technology: Organizations work on technologies to help people in efficiently doing their
work. Same technology does not apply to each Organization but different Organizations demand
different technologies for their different line of businesses e.g bank needs mediating technology
which connects customers and bankers, Manufacturing companies need long linked technology
because of their assembly line process, and hospitals work on intensive technology because of
their responsibility to provide specialized services in terms of doctors and medical equipments.
4) Environment: Organizations are influenced by the environment in which they work, at a
substantial level. Environment is important to Organizations because of the following factors:
 Supply and demand comes from this environment.
 Human resource, competitors, government agencies, unions, and political parties comes
from environment in which Organization is surviving.
 The Organizations have to follow rules and regulations fostered by this environment.

Q8. What are the Importance of Organizational Behavior or Why is Organizational

Behavior needed?
1. It builds better relationship by achieving people’s, organizational, and social objectives.
2. It covers a wide array of human resource like behavior, training and development, change
management, leadership, teams etc.
3. It brings coordination which is the essence of management.
4. It improves goodwill of the organization.
5. It helps to achieve objectives quickly.
6. It makes optimum utilization of resources.
7. It facilitates motivation.
8. It leads to higher efficiency.
9. It improves relations in the organization.
10. It is multidisciplinary, in the sense that applies different techniques, methods, and
theories to evaluate the performances.

Q9. Why is Organizational Behavior important for managers?

1.  Organizational Behavior helps in understanding Organization and Employees in a better way.
2. Organizational Behavior helps in motivating employees.
3. Organizational Behavior helps in improving Industrial / Labor relations.
4. Organizational Behavior helps in predicting and controlling Human Behavior.
5. Organizational Behavior helps in effective utilization of Human Resources
 Q10. What are the 3 levels of organizational behavior analysis?
1. Individual Level Analysis: The major contributing discipline at this level is
psychology. Individuals working in organizations are the building blocks for group
formation. They are very different in nature. In reality, organizations are the purposeful
association of individuals. The individual level analysis includes the characteristics and
behaviours of employees as well as the thought processes that are attributed to them, such
as motivation, perceptions, personalities, attitudes, and values.
2. Group (Team) Level Analysis: Major contributing disciplines at this level are
sociology, social psychology and anthropology. Most of the individuals work in a
group/team. A group is defined as two or more individuals interacting and interdependent,
who have come together to achieve particular objectives. Groups can be either formal or
informal. Group level analysis focuses at the way people interact. This level includes
group dynamics, decisions, power, organizational politics, conflict, leadership,
communication, etc.
3. Organization System Level Analysis: Major contributing disciplines at this level are
sociology, anthropology, and political science. When groups are combined together, they
constitute (create) an organization. The focus of analysis at this level is on how people
structure their working relationships as well as on how organizations interact with their
external environmental forces. Major variables for analysis are organizational structure,
culture, power and politics, and change and development etc.

Q11. What studies contribute to Organizational Behavior?

a) Psychology
b) Sociology
c) Social psychology
d) Anthropology

Q12. Write a short note on the models of Organizational Behavior.

Autocratic Model
The root level of this model is power with a managerial orientation of authority. The employees
in this model are oriented towards obedience and discipline. They are dependent on their boss.
The employee requirement that is met is subsistence. The performance result is less.
The major drawbacks of this model are people are easily frustrated, insecurity, dependency on
the superiors, minimum performance because of minimum wage.
Custodial Model
The root level of this model is economic resources with a managerial orientation of money. The
employees in this model are oriented towards security and benefits provided to them. They are
dependent on the organization. The employee requirement that is met is security.
This model is adapted by firms having high resources as the name suggest. It is dependent on
economic resources. This approach directs to depend on firm rather than on manager or boss.
They give passive cooperation as they are satisfied but not strongly encouraged.
Supportive Model
The root level of this model is leadership with a managerial orientation of support. The
employees in this model are oriented towards their job performance and participation. The
employee requirement that is met is status and recognition. The performance result is awakened
drives.
This model is dependent on leadership strive. It gives a climate to help employees grow and
accomplish the job in the interest of the organization. Management job is to assist the
employee’s job performance. Employees feel a sense of participation.
Collegial Model
The root level of this model is partnership with a managerial orientation of teamwork. The
employees in this model are oriented towards responsible behavior and self-discipline. The
employee requirement that is met is self-actualization. The performance result is moderate zeal.
This is an extension of supportive model. The team work approach is adapted for this model.
Self-discipline is maintained. Workers feel an obligation to uphold quality standard for the
better image of the company. A sense of “accept” and “respect” is seen.

Q13. What do you understand by perception?

Or
Discuss perceptional mechanism. State the Perceptual processes.
Perception is an intellectual process of transforming sensory stimuli to meaningful
information. It is the process of interpreting something that we see or hear in our mind and
use it later to judge and give a verdict on a situation, person, group etc.
It can be divided into six types −
 Of sound 
 Of speech Touch
 Taste 
 Other senses
 Of the social world
Perceptual mechanism involves three elements- selection of stimuli, organization of stimuli, and
interpretation of stimuli.
Perceptual process are the different stages of perception we go through. The different stages of
perceptual mechanism are:-
 Receiving
 Selecting
 Organizing
 Interpreting

Q14 What is Perception and Its Influence on Individual Behaviour? [Past Year]
Perception is the result of processing of information received by individuals regarding various
events around them. It involves the organization of inputs through a dynamic inner process
which shapes all that comes in from the outside environment.
This information processing approach rests on the assumption that a person’s perceptions of
another person are based on the information available about the person and how one uses this
information. Various researches on perception revealed that quite often a perceiver uses his or
her own race or sex stereotypes to assume certain things about another person.
The individual, while perceiving the world, provides a picture that expresses his or her own
individual view of reality. This may differ from the reality. The study of the difference between
the perceptual world and the real world is of great significance in organizational behaviour.
Since the behaviour of an individual at work is the product of the individual’s perceptions, it is
important for a manager not only to understand his or her own perceptions but also the
perceptions of his or her subordinates, to create a situation under which their behaviour might
improve

Q15. What is the difference between process oriented and result oriented people?
Results Oriented people are concerned with the outcome. They want another victory in the win
column; to be called champion and most importantly they don't want to lose. Their desire to win
is so great that the Results Oriented person may adopt a win at any cost approach and not
consider who is hurt or damaged in their pursuit of success. Results Oriented people can
sometimes be the in your face, no excuses type.
The Process Oriented person, although concerned with success, is also concerned with how that
success occurs. They are concerned with their performance during their pursuit and will ask
themselves questions such as: Did I perform better than last time or did I improve in the areas I
was focusing on? I won, but did I play by the rules and show good sportsmanship? If I keep
improving the way I am will I be a champion?