Week 1: Perceptions and Communication

Perception

The process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information.

Attribution

The explanations we create about the causes of others’ behavior.

Internal factors

Attributes related to personality, ability, or effort that influence behavior.

External factors

Attributes related to the environment or situation influencing behavior.

Task characteristics

Features of a task, such as difficulty or clarity, that affect performance.

Fundamental attribution error

The tendency to overestimate internal causes for others' behaviors and underestimate external influences.

Selection

The first stage in the perceptual process, where certain stimuli are noticed or focused on.

Stereotyping

Assigning traits to individuals based on their group membership.

Halo effect

Allowing one positive trait to influence overall judgment of an individual.

Horns effect

Allowing one negative trait to dominate overall evaluations.

Feedback

A response from the receiver that confirms understanding and allows adjustments for clarity.

Decoding

The process by which the receiver interprets the sender’s message.

Downward communication

Information flow from managers to employees.

Upward communication

Information flow from employees to managers.

Horizontal communication

Peer-to-peer communication among individuals at the same level.

Active listening

Engaging in paraphrasing and clarifying what others say to ensure understanding.

Environmental scanning

The assessment of internal and external environments in the strategic management process.

SWOT analysis

A framework for analyzing an organization's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

Mission

The purpose and scope of an organization, describing what it does now.

Vision

The long-term aspiration of an organization, outlining where it wants to be.

Cost-leadership strategy

A business strategy focused on being the lowest-cost producer in the industry.

Differentiation strategy

A business strategy focused on offering unique features and innovation.

Divisional structure

An organizational structure where departments are grouped by product or region.

Functional structure

An organizational structure where departments are grouped by expertise.

Organizational culture

The shared values, beliefs, and practices that shape the behavior of an organization.

Artifacts

Visible elements of culture, such as dress code or rituals.

Employee engagement surveys

Tools used to measure employee commitment and satisfaction within an organization.