Organizational Behavior Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts, theories, and terminology related to organizational behavior as presented in the lecture notes.

Organizational Behavior (OB)

The study of human behavior in organizational settings, and the interface between individuals and organizations.

Management Functions

The four basic functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

Planning

Determining an organization’s desired future position and the best means of getting there.

Organizing

Designing jobs, grouping jobs into units, and establishing patterns of authority.

Leading

Getting the organization’s members to work together toward its goals.

Controlling

Monitoring and correcting the actions of the organization and its members.

Technical Skills

The skills necessary to accomplish specific tasks within an organization.

Interpersonal Skills

The ability to communicate, understand, and motivate individuals and groups.

Conceptual Skills

The ability to think abstractly and consider the big picture in organizational contexts.

Diagnostic Skills

The ability to understand cause-and-effect relationships and find optimal solutions to problems.

Human Resource Management (HRM)

The set of organizational activities directed at attracting, developing, and maintaining an effective workforce.

Competitive Advantage

An organization’s edge over rivals in attracting customers and defending against competition.

Cost Leadership

Striving to be the lowest-cost producer at a certain level of product quality.

Differentiation

Developing a product or service with unique characteristics valued by customers.

Specialization

Focusing on a narrow market segment and pursuing either differentiation or cost leadership.

Growth Strategy

Company expansion through organic growth or mergers/acquisitions.

Systems Perspective

View of organizations as interrelated elements functioning as wholes.

Situational Perspective

Recognizes that organizational situations and outcomes are influenced by several variables.

Interactionalist Perspective

Focuses on how individuals and situations continuously interact to determine behavior.

Employee Engagement

The extent to which employees understand and embrace their roles in the organization.

Organizational Citizenship

Behaviors that contribute positively to the organization, beyond strict job requirements.

Dysfunctional Behaviors

Behaviors that detract from organizational performance, such as absenteeism and turnover.

Strategic Execution

The degree to which managers and employees understand and carry out actions to achieve strategic goals.

Theory (in OB)

A collection of assertions that specifies how and why variables relate and the conditions that affect these relationships.

Hypothesis

A written prediction specifying expected relationships between variables.

Independent Variable

The variable that researchers manipulate in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The variable that researchers measure in an experiment.

Correlation

The strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, ranging from -1 to +1.

Meta-analysis

Combining results from multiple studies to identify overall trends and patterns.

Open Systems

Organizations viewed as entities that interact with their environment and depend on it for inputs.

Feedback Loop

A process in which outputs of a system are circled back as inputs, affecting future operations.

Organizational Effectiveness

The degree to which an organization meets its goals and objectives.

Motivation

The process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors.

Job Satisfaction

The level of contentment employees feel regarding their job roles, tasks, and work environment.

Research Methods in OB

Scientific methods used to study organizational behavior and derive conclusions.

Scientific Method

A systematic process for gathering and analyzing data to understand phenomena.

Observational Study

A research technique involving the systematic recording of observable behaviors.

Survey Research

Collecting data from subjects through their responses to questions.

Case Study Method

An in-depth examination of a single individual, group, or organization.

Sample Size

The number of subjects included in a study, which can affect the reliability of results.

Qualitative Research

Research that focuses on understanding qualities or characteristics rather than quantifiable data.

Quantitative Research

Research involving the use of statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques.

Bias in Research

Errors in research results that may stem from the methodologies used or researcher influence.

Data Collection Techniques

Methods employed to gather information for analysis in research studies.

Intervention Studies

Research studies that apply a treatment or action to observe effects on behavior.

Meta-analysis

Statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies.

Research Ethics

Principles guiding researchers to conduct studies responsibly and with respect for participants.

Grounded Theory

A research method that derives theories from systematic data collection and analysis.

Randomized Controlled Trials

Experiments that randomly assign participants to treatment or control groups.

Longitudinal Studies

Research that follows subjects over time to observe changes and developments.

Cross-sectional Studies

Research that analyzes data from a population at a specific point in time.

Organizational Culture

The shared values, beliefs, and norms that shape the behaviors and practices within an organization.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to recognize and manage one’s emotions and understand the emotions of others.

Collaborative Teamwork

Working jointly with others to achieve a common goal, emphasizing cooperation and shared responsibility.

Conflict Resolution

Methods and processes aimed at facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict.

Change Management

The approach to transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations to a desired future state.

Workplace Diversity

The inclusion of individuals from various backgrounds and identities within the workplace.

Employee Development

The organizational efforts to improve employees' skills and capabilities.

Performance Evaluation

The assessment process to review employee performance against established standards.

Leadership Styles

The various approaches leaders may use to direct, motivate, and manage teams.

Vision Statement

A declaration of an organization's objectives and aspirations for the future.

Mission Statement

A summary of an organization’s purpose and the intentions behind its existence.

Stakeholder Engagement

The process of involving those who have an interest in the organization's activities and decisions.

Organizational Change

The process of modifying organizational structures, processes, or strategies.

Innovation

The process of implementing new ideas, products, or processes to improve or change.

Market Analysis

The assessment of the market to identify trends, demands, and competition.

Competitive Strategy

Plans developed by an organization to compete effectively against rivals.

Financial Performance

The measure of an organization's profitability, revenue, and overall economic health.

Business Model

The plan or strategy that outlines how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value.

Organizational Structure

The system that outlines how certain activities are directed to achieve the goals of an organization.

Team Dynamics

The behavioral relationships and interactions between team members.

Culture Change

The process of transforming an organization’s culture to align with new goals or values.

Strategic Planning

The process of defining an organization's strategy or direction and making decisions on allocating resources.

Talent Management

The systematic attraction, identification, development, engagement, retention, and deployment of those individuals with high potential.

Feedback Mechanism

A system for ensuring that feedback on performance and activities is received and acted upon.

Time Management

The ability to use one's time effectively or productively, especially in the workplace.

Work-life Balance

The equilibrium between personal life and career work.

Employee Retention

The strategies and practices used by employers to retain valuable employees.

Succession Planning

The process of identifying and developing new leaders who can replace old leaders when they leave.

Organizational Resilience

The ability of an organization to absorb and adapt to disruptions and changes.

Social Responsibility

The obligation of an organization to act in a manner that benefits society.

Customer Satisfaction

The measure of how products and services meet or exceed customer expectations.

Market Positioning

The strategy of establishing a brand or product in relation to competitors.

Risk Management

The identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated efforts to minimize their impact.

Performance Metrics

Standards of measurement that gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations.