Week 1 - Introduction to Management, Organization, and Organizational Behavior (OB) Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Week 1 notes on Management, Organization, and Organizational Behavior (OB).

Management

The process of coordinating resources (people, finances, information) to achieve organizational goals, typically through planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

Organization

A consciously coordinated social unit of two or more people that functions on a relatively continuous basis to achieve common goals.

Planning

The management function of setting objectives and determining in advance the actions needed to attain them.

Organizing

Arranging resources and tasks to implement the plan and establish a structure to achieve goals.

Leading

Motivating, directing, and influencing people to work toward organizational goals.

Controlling

Monitoring performance, comparing it with goals, and taking corrective action.

Manager

Someone who gets things done through other people in organizations.

Mintzberg's Managerial Roles

Ten interrelated roles categorized as interpersonal (Figurehead, Leader, Liaison), informational (Monitor, Disseminator, Spokesperson), and decisional (Entrepreneur, Disturbance Handler, Resource Allocator, Negotiator).

Interpersonal Skills

Behaviors and tactics used to interact effectively with others, including communication, active listening, empathy, and emotional intelligence.

Technical Skills

The ability to apply specialized knowledge or expertise to perform tasks.

Human Skills

The ability to work with and through people, including teamwork, motivation, and leadership.

Conceptual Skills

The mental ability to analyze and diagnose complex situations and think strategically.

Theory X

A traditional management view that most people are lazy and need external control to work.

Theory Y

A management view that under the right conditions, people are capable of productive work and taking responsibility.

Organizational Behavior (OB)

The field that studies behavior in organizational settings using the scientific method to improve effectiveness and quality of life.

Levels of Analysis in OB

The Individual, Group, and Organizational levels of analysis, each with inputs, processes, and outcomes.

Inputs (OB)

Nouns such as diversity, personality, values, group structure, and organizational culture that influence processes.

Processes (OB)

Actions that individuals, groups, and organizations engage in as a result of inputs, leading to outcomes.

Outcomes (OB)

Dependent variables that OB researchers aim to understand or predict (e.g., productivity, attitudes).

Productivity

A measure of performance that includes both effectiveness and efficiency—how well goals are achieved at a reasonable cost.

Absenteeism

The failure to report to work.

Turnover

The voluntary and involuntary permanent withdrawal from an organization.

Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB)

Discretionary behavior not part of formal job requirements but that contributes to organizational effectiveness.

Deviant Workplace Behavior

Voluntary employee behavior that violates organizational norms and harms the organization or its members.

Job Satisfaction

A general attitude toward one’s job, reflecting evaluation of its characteristics.

Contingency Variables

Situational factors that change the strength or direction of relationships between variables.

Dependent Variable

A variable that is influenced by the independent variable; outcomes OB researchers seek to explain or predict.

Basic OB Model

A framework showing Inputs, Processes, and Outcomes across Individual, Group, and Organizational levels.

Organizational Culture

Shared values, norms, and beliefs within an organization that guide behavior.

Ethical Behavior

Acting in a morally appropriate way; organizations provide codes of ethics and climates to support ethical conduct.

Networked Organizations

Organizations in which work is done through networks and online collaboration, requiring new motivation and leadership approaches.

Social Media at Work

Policies governing employee use of social media at work and its impact on well-being and productivity.

Positive Organizational Scholarship

A field focusing on human strengths, vitality, resilience, and potential to boost organizational performance.

Task Performance

The effectiveness and efficiency with which employees perform core job tasks.

Group Cohesion

The degree to which group members support and validate one another at work.

Group Functioning

The quality and quantity of a group’s work output.

Survival

An organization's ability to exist and grow over the long term.

Leadership

The ability to influence and guide individuals or groups toward achieving goals.

Organizational Structure and Design

How jobs, authority, and communication are arranged within the organization.

Stress

Unpleasant psychological response to environmental pressures.