An Introduction to

Organizational
Behaviour
(PSYC-6223)
Organizational
Behaviour
Organizations
 Group or groups of people who work
interdependently to achieve a common
purpose or goal

Organizational Behavior
 The study of what people think, feel, and do
in and around organizations
Organizational Behavior

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.

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What is Organizational
Behavior?
Organizational behavior (OB) is the study of:
◦ Human behavior in organizational settings
◦ The interface between human behavior and the organization
◦ The organization itself

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The Importance of
Organizational Behavior
Organizations can have a powerful influence on our lives:
◦ Most people are born and educated in organizations
◦ Most people acquire most of their material possessions from organizations
◦ Most people die as members of organizations
◦ Many of our activities are regulated by governmental organizations
◦ Most people spend most of their lives in organizations

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Why Study OB?
Studying organizational behavior can clarify factors that affect how
managers manage by:
◦ Describing the complex human context of organizations
◦ Defining the associated opportunities, problems, challenges, and issues
◦ Isolating important aspects of the manager’s job
◦ Offering specific perspectives on the human side of management

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Why Study OB? (cont’d)
Studying OB helps managers understand:
◦ The behaviors of others in the organization
◦ Personal needs, motives, behaviors, feelings and career dynamics
◦ Attitudinal processes, individual differences, group dynamics, inter group dynamics, organization
culture, power, and political behavior

◦ Interactions with people outside of the organization and other organizations

◦ The environment, technology, and global issues

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 Why study OB?
After studying this subject, you would be able
Understand
organizational
events To understand what is the nature, types and functions of
organizations.

Predict
organizational
To influence the organizational life by promoting right
events practices and avoiding inappropriate activities.

Influence
organizational To predict the success and failure of the organizations in
events different conditions.
OB and Related
Disciplines
SUBJECT CONTRIBUTION IN ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR
Psychology Perception, personality, motivation and learning
Sociology Nature and functions of groups in organizations
Anthropology Culture, norms, values and ethics in organizations
Political Science Power and politics in organizations
Communication Studies Nature and function of business communication
Psychology

The science that seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the
behavior of humans and other animals.
Unit of Analysis:
◦ Individual

Contributions to OB:
◦ Learning, motivation, personality, emotions, perception
◦ Training, leadership effectiveness, job satisfaction
◦ Individual decision making, performance appraisal attitude measurement
◦ Employee selection, work design, and work stress

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Social Psychology

An area within psychology that blends concepts from psychology and

sociology and that focuses on the influence of people on one another.

Unit of Analysis:
◦ Group

Contributions to OB:
◦ Behavioral change
◦ Attitude change
◦ Communication
◦ Group processes
◦ Group decision making

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Sociology

The study of people in relation to their fellow human

beings.

UNIT OF ANALYSIS:
-- Organizational System -- Group

Contributions to OB:
◦ Group dynamics ◦ Formal organization theory
◦ Work teams ◦ Organizational technology
◦ Communication ◦ Organizational change
◦ Power ◦ Organizational culture
◦ Conflict
◦ Intergroup behavior

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Anthropology

The study of societies to learn about human beings and

their activities.

UNIT OF ANALYSIS:
-- Organizational System -- Group

Contributions to OB:
◦ Organizational culture ◦ Comparative values
◦ Organizational environment ◦ Comparative attitudes
◦ Cross-cultural analysis

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Few Absolutes in OB
Situational factors that make the main relationship
between two variables change—e.g., the relationship
may hold for one condition but not another.

Contingency Independent Dependent

Variable (Z) Variable (X) Variable (Y)

In American Boss Gives

“Thumbs Up”
Understood as
Culture Sign
Complimenting

In Iranian or Boss Gives Understood as

Australian “Thumbs Up” Insulting - “Up
Sign Yours!”
Cultures
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 Organizational Behavior and
the Management Process

Management Resources Used by

Functions Managers
◦ Planning ◦ Human
◦ Organizing ◦ Financial
◦ Leading ◦ Physical
◦ Controlling ◦ Information

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 Functions of
Management
Planning Determining an organization’s desired
future position and the best means of
getting there
Organizing Designing jobs, grouping jobs into units,
and establishing patterns of authority
between jobs and units
Leading Getting organizational members to work
together toward the organization’s goals
Controlling Monitoring and correcting the actions of
the organization and its members to keep
them directed toward their goals

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 Organizational Behavior and
the Manager’s Job

Basic
BasicManagerial
Managerial Roles
Roles

Interpersonal
Interpersonal Informational
Informational Decision-Making
Decision-Making

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 Table 1.1 Important Managerial Roles

Category Role Example

Interpersonal Figurehead Attend employee retirement ceremony
Leader Encourage workers to increase productivity
Liaison Coordinate activities of two committees

Informational Monitor Scan business publications for information

about competition
Disseminator Send out memos outlining new policies
Spokesperson Hold press conference to announce new plant

Decision Making Entrepreneur Develop idea for new product and convince
others of its merit
Disturbance handler Resolve dispute
Resource allocator Allocate budget requests
Negotiator Settle new labor contract

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 Critical Managerial Skills
Technical Skills necessary to accomplish
specific tasks within the organization
Interpersonal Skills used to communicate with,
understand, and motivate individuals
and groups
Conceptual Skills used in abstract thinking
Diagnostic Skills to understand cause-effect
relationships and to recognize optimal
solutions to problems

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Contemporary
Organizational Behavior
Characteristics of the Field
◦ Interdisciplinary in focus
◦ Descriptive in nature
Basic Concepts of the Field
1. Individual processes
2. Interpersonal processes
3. Organizational processes/characteristics

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 Studying OB form Micro to
Macro Levels
Individual Level Group Level of Organizational
of Analysis Analysis Level of Analysis
Personality Leadership Organizational culture
Motivation Decision Making Organizational
structure
Perception Conflict Management
Business
Stress Management Power and Politics communication
Nature and Functions
of Groups
Methods of Research in
OB
Case Studies
Survey Research
Qualitative Research
Experimental Research
Observational Research
THANKS