Characteristics

of Organizational
Behavior

CAUSE AND EFFECT

RELATIONSHIP
Everything in life has a cause and an effect. You study for a test you get a good grade. You
forget your umbrella when it rains, you get wet. You break a rule you have a consequence.

“Choices made, whether bad or good, follow you forever and affect everyone in their path one way
or another.”
― J.E.B. Spredemann, An Unforgivable Secret
 What are Cause and Effect Relationships?
Human Behavior is
generally taken in terms
of cause-and-effect A cause-effect relationship is a relationship in which
relationship and not in one event (the cause) makes another event happen
philosophical terms. It
helps in predicting the (the effect).
behavior of individuals. Example:
It provides
generalizations that If we eat too much food and do not exercise, we gain weight. 
managers can use to Eating food without exercising is the “cause;” weight gain is the
anticipate the effect of “effect.” 
certain activities on
human behavior.
 Attitudes can positively or negatively affect a person’s behavior, regardless of
whether the individual is aware of the effects.
 People with a positive attitude can lift the spirits of their co-workers, while a
person with a negative attitude can lower their spirits. Sometimes, though, this
principle works in reverse, and attitudes are often more complex than positive or
negative. Attitudes may affect both the employee’s work performance and the
performances of co-workers.
 Values can strongly influence employee conduct in the workplace. If an
employee values honesty, hard work, and discipline, for example, he will likely
make an effort to exhibit those traits in the workplace. This person may therefore
be a more efficient employee and a more positive role model to others than an
employee with opposite values.
 For example, employees may develop poor attitudes if they work long hours, if
the company is having difficulties, or if they have relationship issues with the
manager or another employee. Similarly, if employees feel believe there is little
chance for advancement or that their efforts go unappreciated by the
organization, they may develop a negative attitude. To the extent they are able,
managers should strive to remedy these situations to encourage an effective work
environment.
 Contribution and Impact to the
Organization
A person who has positive attitudes towards work and co-workers (such as
contentment, friendliness, etc.) can positively influence those around them. These
positive attitudes are usually manifested in a person’s behavior; people with a good
attitude are active and productive and do what they can to improve the mood of
those around them.
In much the same way, a person who displays negative attitudes (such as
discontentment, boredom, etc.), will behave accordingly. People with these types of
attitudes towards work may likewise affect those around them and behave in a
manner that reduces efficiency and effectiveness.
What Organizations can do?
 Organizations must therefore recognize that it is possible to influence a person’s
attitude and, in turn, his or her behavior. A positive work environment, job satisfaction,
a reward system, and a code of conduct can all help reinforce specific behaviors.
 One key to altering an individual’s behavior is consistency. Fostering initiatives that
influence behavior is not enough; everyone in the organization needs to be committed
to the success of these initiatives. It is also important to remember that certain
activities will be more effective with some people than with others. Management may
want to outline a few different behavior-change strategies to have the biggest effect
across the organization and take into consideration the diversity inherent in any group.
What Organizations can do?
 Training programs, codes of conduct, and ethics committees can inform employees
of the types of behavior that the company finds acceptable and unacceptable. While
these efforts will not necessarily not change an individual’s values, they can help
them decide not to participate in unethical behavior while at work.
Managers must emphasize not only an employee’s responsibilities, but also what
the organization expects with respect to values and ethics. Ethics statements and
vision statements are useful tools in communicating to employees what the company
stands for and why.
REPORTER: MARIZ A. PARBA, BSA-4