Organizational Behavior Chapter 1

Copyright ©2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Chapter 1

What IsOrganizational Behavior?

Essentials of Organizational Behavior

12eStephen P. Robbins & Timothy A. Judge

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After studying this chapter,

you should be able to:1. Define organizational behavior (OB).

2. Show the value to OB of systematic study.

3. Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB.

4. Demonstrate why few absolutes apply to OB.

5. Identify the challenges and opportunities managers have in applying OB concepts.

6. Identify the three levels of analysis in OB.Copyright ©2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

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The Field of Organizational Behavior Organizational behavior studies the

influence that individuals, groups and structure have on behavior within organizations

Its chief goal is to apply that knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness


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Focal Points of OB

Jobs Work Absenteeism Employment turnover Productivity Human performance Management


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Complementing Intuition with Systematic Study

Intuition: your “gut feeling” explanation of behavior

Systematic study improves ability to accurately predict behavior Assumes behavior is not random Fundamental consistencies underlie behavior These can be identified and modified to

reflect individual differences


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Systematic Study

Examines relationshipsAttempts to attribute causes and

effectsBases conclusions on scientific

evidence:Data is gathered under controlled

conditionsData is measured and interpreted in a

reasonably rigorous manner


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Evidence-Based Management

Evidence-based management: Bases decisions on the best available scientific evidenceComplements

systematic studyForces managers to

become more scientific in their thinking


Contributing Disciplines to the OB Field

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Psychology

Social Psychology

Sociology

Anthropology

Micro:The

Individual

Macro:Groups &

Organizations


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Few Absolutes in OB Impossible to

make simple and accurate generalizations

Human beings are complex

and diverse OB concepts

must reflect situational conditions: contingency variables

Contingency Variable

(Z)

Independent Variable (X)

Dependent Variable (Y)

In American Culture

Boss Gives “Thumbs Up”

Sign

Understood as

Complimenting

In Iranian or

Australian Cultures

Boss Gives “Thumbs Up”

Sign

Understood as Insulting - “Up Yours!”


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Challenges and Opportunities for OB

Responding to economic pressures Responding to globalization Managing workplace diversity Improving customer service Improving people skills Stimulating innovation and change Coping with “temporariness” Working in networked organizations Helping employees with work-life

conflicts Improving ethical behaviorCopyright ©2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Responding to Economic Pressures

Effective management is especially important during tough economic times

Employees look to their managers to provide security during the instability of a recession


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Responding to Globalization

Increased foreign assignmentsDiffering needs and

aspirations in workforceWorking with people from

different culturesDomestic motivational

techniques and managerial styles may not work

Overseeing movement of jobs to countries with low-cost labor


Managing Workforce Diversity

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Workforce diversity: organizations are becoming a more heterogeneous mix of people in terms of gender, age, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation


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Diversity Categories

Gender Race National origin Age Disability Domestic

partners Religion


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Improving Customer Service and People Skills

The majority of employees in developed nations work in service jobs

They must know how to please their customers

People skills are essential to success in today’s organizations


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Stimulating Innovation and Change

FlexibilityQuality

ImprovementStaying

Competitive


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Coping with Temporariness

Jobs are constantly changing

Skills need to be updated for workers to stay on target

Workers need to be able to deal with change

Employees need to be able to cope with flexibility, spontaneity and unpredictability


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Working in Networked Organizations

Managers must adapt their skills and communication styles to succeed in an online environment


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Helping Employees Handle Work-Life Conflict

The line between work and non work has blurred and managers are increasingly dealing with conflicts that arise between work and life away from work


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Improving Ethical Behavior

Managers facing ethical dilemmas or ethical choices are required to identify right and wrong conductThis can be difficult on a global economy

where different cultures approach decisions from different perspectives

Companies promoting strong ethical missions: Encourage employees to behave with

integrityProvide strong leadership that influence

employee decisions to behave ethically


Three Levels of OB Analysis

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Chapters 2 - 7

Chapters 8 - 13

Chapters 14 - 17

Plan of the Book


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Implications for Managers

OB helps with:Insights to improve people skillsValuing of workforce diversityEmpowering people and creating a

positive work environmentDealing with change in the workplaceCoping in a world of temporarinessCreating an ethically healthy work

environment


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Keep in Mind…

OB’s goal is to understand and predict human behavior in organizations

Fundamental consistencies underlie behavior

It is more important than ever to learn OB concepts

Both managers and employees must learn to cope with temporariness


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Organizational Behavior Chapter 1