BA 104 Module 1: Introduction to OB

Managers

individuals who achieve goals through other people

Managers

make decisions, allocate resources and direct activities of others to attain goals

Organization

a consciously coordinated social unit, composed of two or more people that functions on a relatively continuous basis to achieve a common goal or set of goals,

Planning

A process that includes defining goals, establishing strategy, and developing plans to coordinate activities

Organizing

Determining what tasks are to be done, who is to do them, how the tasks are to be grouped, who reports to who, and where decisions are to be made.

Leading

A function that includes motivating employees, directing others, selecting the most effective communication channels, and resolving conflicts

Controlling

monitoring activities to ensure they are being accomplished as planned and correcting any significant deviations.

Mintzberg

According to him, there are different roles that a manager does. Namely, interpersonal roles, informational roles, and decisional roles

Interpersonal Roles

Under this role is Figurehead, Leader, and Liaison

Figurehead

Symbolic head; required to perform a number of routine duties of a legal or social nature

Leader

Responsible for the motivation and direction of employees

Liaison

Maintains a network of outside contacts who provide favors and information

Informational Roles

Under this role is monitor, disseminator, and spokesperson

Monitor

Receives wide variety of information; serves as nerve center of internal and external information of the organization

Disseminator

Transmits information received from outsiders or from other employees to members of the organization

Spokesperson

Transmits information to outsiders on organization’s plans, policies, actions and results; serves as expert on organization’s industry

Decisional Roles

Under this role is Entrepreneur, Disturbance Handler, Resource Allocator, and Negotiator

Entrepreneur

Searches organization and its environment for opportunities and initiates projects to bring about change

Disturbance Handler

Responsible for corrective action when organization faces important, unexpected disturbances

Resource Allocator

Makes or approves significant organizational decisions

Negotiator

Responsible for representing the organization at major negotiations

Robert L. Katz

proposed that managers need three critical skills in managing: technical, interpersonal/human, and conceptual

Technical Skills

The ability to apply specialized knowledge or expertise

Human Skills

The ability to work with, understand, and motivate other people, both individually and in groups

Conceptual Skills

The mental ability to analyze and diagnose complex situations

Human Skills

This management skill is a must in all managerial levels

Psychology

The science that seeks to explain and sometimes change the behavior of humans and other animals.

Psychology (2)

The discipline that has the most contribution to the field of OB

Sociology

The study of people in relation to their fellow human beings. The field studies the social systems in which individuals fill their roles.

Social Psychology

An area within psychology that blends concepts from psychology and sociology and that focuses on the influence of people on one another.

Anthropology

The study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities.

Political Science

The study of the behavior of individuals and groups within a political environment

Social Psychology (2)

The most important contribution of this field to OB is how groups can satisfy individual needs and the group decision-making process.

Political Science (2)

A useful contribution of the field to OB is dynamics of power centers, structuring of conflict and conflict resolution tactics, and influence.

Economics

the overlap between this field and OB is in the area of designing organizational structure.

Organizational Behavior (OB)

is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness

Organizational Behavior (OB)

is the study of human behavior in organizational settings, how human behavior interacts with the organization, and the organization itself

Individuals, groups, and structure

The three determinants of behavior in organizations

Organizational Behavior (OB)

the study of what people do in an organization and how their behavior affects the organization’s performance.

Responding to economic pressures, Responding to globalization, Managing workforce diversity, improving customer service, coping with temporariness, improving ethical behavior, creating a positive work environment

enumerate 7 challenges and opportunities for OB

Goals of OB

to explain, predict, and influence behavior

Explain

OB ___ why employees engage in some behaviors rather than others

Predict

OB ____ how employees will respond to various actions and decisions

Influence

OB ___ how employees behave

Increased Foreign Assignments, Working with People from Different Cultures, Overseeing movement of jobs to countries with low-cost labor

3 key influencers to the three determinants of behavior

Positive Organizational Scholarship/Behavior

Studies how organizations develop human strengths, foster vitality and resilience, and unlock potential

Psychology (3)

interested in predicting the behavior of individuals by observing the dynamics of personal factors -- particularly personality and motivation