OB

1. Organizational
Behavior
John W. Newstrom
Human Behavior at
Work
Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
14e
Chapter One
The Dynamics of
People and
Organizations

2. Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objectives
 The meaning of organizational behavior
 The key goals and forces with which it is
concerned
 The basic concepts of organizational behavior
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Organizational Behavior (OB)
 Systematic study and application of knowledge
about how people act within organizations
 Identifies ways in which people can act more
effectively
 Is a scientific discipline and an applied science
 Provides a useful set of analysis tools
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4. Copyright © 2014 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Benefits of Organizational Behavior
 Helps observe the behavior of individuals within
an organization
 Aids in understanding the complexities involved
in interpersonal relations
 Examines the dynamics of relationships within
small groups
 Aids in viewing and managing organizations as
whole systems
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Goals of Organizational Behavior
 To systematically describe how people behave
under various circumstances
 To understand people’s behavior
 To predict an individual’s behavior
 To control human behavior at work
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Forces of Organizational Behavior
 People
 Constitute the internal social system of the
organization
 Diversity: Occurs when employees bring a wide
array of educational backgrounds, talents, and
perspectives to their jobs
 Structure
 Formal relationship and use of people in
organizations
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Forces of Organizational Behavior
 People must be related in some structural way so
their work can be effectively coordinated
 Technology
 Provides the tools necessary for employees to
carry out their tasks
 Environment
 Organizations operate in internal and external
environments
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Forces of Organizational Behavior
 Changes create demands on organizations
 External environment affects human behavior
 Influences people’s attitudes
 Affects working conditions
 Provides competition for resources and power
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Figure 1.2 - Fundamental Concepts of
Organizational Behavior
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Nature of People
 Individual differences: Requires managers to
employ a unique approach to every individual
employee
 Law of individual differences: Belief that each
person is different from all others
 Perception: Unique way in which each person
sees, organizes, and interprets things
 Selective perception: Paying attention to features
of work environment that are consistent with or
reinforce one’s own expectations
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Nature of People
 Whole person - Organizations employ a whole
person rather than certain characteristics
 Home life is not totally separable from work life
 Emotional conditions are not separate from
physical conditions
 Ways to develop a better employee and person
 Motivated behavior
 Desire for involvement
 Value of the person
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Nature of Organizations
• Activities in organizations are governed by social laws as well
as psychological laws
Social systems
• Organization and its employees depending on each other to
achieve their respective goals
Mutual interest
• Use of moral principles and values to affect the behavior of
individuals and organizations
Ethics
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