Organizational behavior is an interdisciplinary field that draws from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and other behavioral sciences to understand how individuals and groups act in organizations. It seeks to predict, direct, and control human behavior in organizations to improve performance. Organizational behavior studies individuals, groups, and organizational systems and how they interact and influence each other. It helps organizations understand human behavior at different levels, control and direct behavior through tools like leadership and communication, and adapt to changes in the environment.
2. Concept
“Organisation Behaviour is concerned with the study of
what people do in an organisation and how that
behaviour affects the performance of the
organisation.”
It is a branch of social science that seeks to build theories
that can be applied to predicting, directing & controlling
human behavior in an organization.
◦ The tasks to be undertaken
◦ The technology/methods of carrying out work
◦ The behaviour of people
◦ The external environment
3. Nature of OB
Interdisciplinary Approach(psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc.)
An applied science : Unlike the pure science which concentrate on fundamental
research, OB concentrate on applied researches to solve problems of
organizations.
Normative & value centered(acceptable to the society): OB is a normative
science that shows how the various findings of the researches can be applied to
socially acceptable organizational goals.
Humanistic & optimistic
Organizational objectives orientation
A total systems approach : It takes into account all the variables such as People,
Structure and Technology, affecting organizational functioning.
4. Contributing disciplines to OB
Disciplines Contribution Unit of analysis
Psychology (science of
behavior)
Learning,motivation,personality
,emotions,perception,work
design,work stress,individual
decision making,
individual
Sociology (how people
interact with each other)
Group dynamics, work groups,
communication, power, conflict
and intergroup behaviour
Group & org.
systems
5. Behavioral
science
Contribution Unit of analysis
Anthropology
(science of man)
Comparative values,
comparative attitudes, cross-
cultural analysis
Organizational culture,
organizational environment
Group & organizational
systems
Political science Conflict, Intra-organizational
politics, power
Organizational systems
6. Scope/Role of OB
Study of OB helps the organization in the following aspects:
Understanding human behavior
◦ Individual level : Individual Behaviour
◦ Interpersonal level : Behaviour with other people
◦ Group level : Behaviour in group
◦ Intergroup level : Interaction between two groups
Controlling & directing human behavior
◦ Use of power & sanctions: Power is the capacity of an individual to take
certain action under given authority. Sanctions are the certain restrictions on
the action of employees which can be employed using power.
◦ Leadership
◦ Communication
7. Scope/Role of OB
◦ Organizational climate: A good org. climate is made up of cordial relationship
between employees and management, effective supervision, opportunity for
relation of personal goal etc.
Organizational adaptation: An organization always works in dynamic
changing world. It has to constitutionally interact with environmental
changes, technological changes, social changes, etc. an organization has
to adopt such changes.