OB is A field of study Interdisciplinary approach An applied scienceNormative & value centered humanistic & optimistic Objective oriented A total system approach

1. NATURE OF OB
(BY. Dr. Debajani Palai,
Faculty IMIT)
SUB POINTS
A field of study
Interdisciplinary approach
An applied science
Normative & value centered humanistic & optimistic
Objective oriented
A total system approach
NATURE

2. A Field Of Study Not A Discipline
• A discipline is an accepted science with a
theoretical foundation that serves as the basis for
research &analysis. So it is not accepted as science.
• OB can be treated as a distinct field of study not a
discipline.
• OB because of its broad base it can be regarded as
inter disciplinary approach.
• OB focuses on principles, concepts, practices &
processes in the field of enquiry. So it is reasonable
to call OB as a field of study.

3. Inter Disciplinary Approach
• An interdisciplinary approach integrates the
relevant knowledge drawn from different
disciplines for some specific purpose.
• OB draws heavily from Psychology, Sociology,
Anthropology etc.
• These disciplines exist separately, but OB integrates
the relevant contents of these disciplines to make
them applicable for organizational analysis.
• So OB is nothing apart from the integration of
knowledge from different disciplines.

4. An Applied Science
• The basic objective of OB is to make application of
various researches to solve the organizational
problems particularly related to human behavior
aspect.
• It is not a pure science. It concentrates on applied
researches.
• Though many of the researches may be carried on
in laboratory situations & controlled conditions,
they are meant for general application in
organizational analysis.
• Thus OB is a Science as well as an Art.

5. Normative & Value Centered
• OB is a normative science. A normative science, is not
like the positive science (which suggests only cause-
effect relationship).
• OB studies how various findings of the researches can
be applied to get organizational results which are
acceptable to the society.
• So what is acceptable by the society or individuals
engaged in an organization is a matter of values to the
people concerned (which is not explained in the
positive science).
• As OB deals with value judgment it can be regarded as
a normative science.

6. Humanistic & Optimistic
• OB focuses the attention on people from humanistic
point of view. It is based on the belief that needs &
motivation of people are of high concern.
• There is an acceptance of the value of the individual as
a thinking, feeling organism, & without these
considerations the organizations may not be fully
operational as a social entity.
• Further, there is optimism about the innate (instinct)
potential of man to be independent, creative,
productive & capable of contributing positively to the
objectives of the organization.

7. Objective Oriented
• As OB focuses on both science & humanistic
approach it is always objective oriented.
• Though an organization may have several
objectives & sometimes conflicting with individual
objectives, it should not be understood that OB
only emphasizes the achievements of individual
objectives at the cost of organizational objectives.
• In fact, OB tries to integrate both types of
objectives so that these are achieved
simultaneously.

8. A Total System Approach
• OB is total systems approach wherein the living system of an
organization is viewed as an enlargement of a man.
• The systems approach is an integrative approach which
takes into account all the variables affecting organizational
functioning.
• In fact, the systems thinking in organization analysis has
been developed by behavioral scientists.
• Behavioral science, while analyzing organizational behavior,
does not take human being in isolation but as the product of
socio-psychological factors.
• Thus man’s nature is quite complex, & OB by applying
systems approach tries to find solution of this complexity.