Organizational Behavior

Organizational behavior is defined as “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 organization’s effectiveness”.

Why do we study OB? First, if we know how a person perceived a situation and what is important to him or her, we will be able to predict the behavior that may follow. Second, even when the behavior of another appears to be irrational to us, there is usually sound rationality behind it in the perception of the other individual.

Other disciplines that contribute to OB are psychology, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, and political science.

• Psychology seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior of humans and other animals

• Sociology studies individuals in relation to other human beings

• Social psychology is a blend of the two listed above

• Anthropology looks at societies in order to understand human beings and their activities

• Political Science is interested in the behavior of individuals and groups within a political environment

By studying OB, managers can understand the challenges and opportunities that are presented in the workplace more effectively:

• Improving quality and productivity

• Improving people skills

• Managing workforce diversity

• Responding to globalization

• Empowering people

• Stimulating innovation and change

• Helping employees balance work/life conflicts

• Declining employee loyalty

• Improving ethical behavior

Values represent “basic convictions that a specific mode of conduct or end-state of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse mode of conduct or end-state of existence.” They tend to be relatively stable over time and enduring, having been established in our early years from various influences such as our parents, teachers, friends, and...