Organizational behavior is the study of how individuals, groups, and structures behave within organizations. It aims to describe, understand, predict, and control human behavior in organizations. Organizational behavior draws from various social sciences like psychology, sociology, social psychology, and anthropology. It applies scientific methods to systematically observe and measure individual behaviors in organizations. The goal is to help organizations function more effectively by understanding employee behaviors and how to motivate productive behaviors. Organizational behavior is important for uncovering hidden attitudes, explaining and predicting behaviors, acquiring people skills, and developing judgments for handling people and situations.

1. Meaning & Significance
Lecture 1

2. Definition
• It is a field of study with common body of
knowledge
• It studies 3 determinants of behavior: those of
individuals, groups and organizations
• It applies the knowledge gained about
individuals, groups & the effect of structures on
behavior in order to make organizations work
more effectively

3. Goals of OB
• Describe behaviour: how people behave under a
variety of conditions
• Understand behaviour: understand why people
behave as they do in organisations
• Predict behaviour: predict future employee
behaviour like productive and unproductive
employees
• Control behaviour: control & develop some human
activity at work(skill development, team effort etc)

4. Nature/Scope/Features
• 3 levels of analysis: individuals, groups and
organizations
• Distinct field of study: a large number of
research studies are being added to its
knowledge bank
• Interdisciplinary in nature: draws its concepts
form a wide variety of social science subjects
• Use of scientific methods: it is based on
systematic observations & measurement of the
behavior of individuals

5. ..contd
• Focus on application: aims to make real difference
to organization problems, like reducing work related
stress
• Contingency thinking: different situations require
different behavioral practices for greater
effectiveness
• Subset of management: it an integral part of overall
management practices
• Integrative in nature: it seeks to fulfill employees’
needs & aspirations while trying to realize
organizational goals

6. Importance/ significane
• Uncover hidden aspects of organization:
attitudes such as perceptions, group norms,
informal relationships
• Explain & predict behavior: since managers need
to get the work done through others
• Acquire people skills: ways of handling &
motivating people
• Formulate judgments: develop ideas of handling
people & situations

7. Limitations
• Theoretical: it has limited practical applicability
• Behavioral flavor: too much emphasis on
behavior while neglecting other aspects
• Manipulative: May use the concepts for
manipulating others

8. Contributing disciplines
• Psychology: Learning, motivation, personality,
training, job satisfaction
• Sociology: Group dynamics, power, conflict,
organization culture, change
• Social Psychology & Economics: attitudes, group
decision making
• Anthropology: cross cultural analysis,
organization environment
• Political science: conflict, power & politics

9. OB Models
• Autocratic: Managers believe that subordinates are
always lazy & want to avoid responsibility. Therefore
they must be controlled & threatened to work.
• Custodial: Managers use welfare programs to take care
of the physical & security needs of employees
• Supportive: These relate to healthy superior subordinate
relationship for getting the work done
• Collegial: Teamwork is the essence of success.
• Systems: integrative organization systems. A sense of
caring is said to be the foundation of managerial success.