IO Psych Chapter 14

organizational theory

organizational theory

a set of propositions that explains or predicts how groups and individuals behave in varying organizational structures and circumstances

division of labor

an approach whereby each job in a bureaucratic organization is a specialized position with its own set of respinsibilities and duties

delegation of authority

an approach whereby supervisors assign particular tasks to separate employees and hold them responsible for completing these tasks

micro-manager

managers who, instead of delegating individual tasks to employees, try to take charge of all tasks

span of control

the number of subordinates who report to a given supervisor

organizational development (OD)

a planned, organization-wide effort to increase organizational effectiveness through behavioral science knowledge and technology

change agent

the individual who initiates the change process in an organization; also called the interventionist

client

the recipient of an organizational change effort in an organization

resistance to change

the characteristic of some individuals who so prefer to keep things the way they are that they intentionally or otherwise work to make change more difficult and less successful

intervention

the program or initiative that is suggested or implemented by the change agent in an organizational change effort

sensemaking

the process whereby employees exert effort to interpret and understand work-related events

team building

a technique used by organizations to develop teams or to enhance the effectiveness of existing teams

total quality management (TQM)

an initiative that focuses on employee involvement in the control of quality in organizations

gainsharing

an OD intervention that involves paying employees a bonus based on improvements in productivity

reengineering

the fundamental rethinking and redesign of business processes to improve critical performance as measured by cost, quality, service, and speed

information technology (IT)

the science of collecting, storing, processing, and transmitting information

positive psychology

the scientific study of the strengths and virtues of individuals and institutions

appreciative inquiry (AI)

the art and practice of using questions to help an organization enhance its positice potential

organizational transformation

a term that refers to any intervention primarily directed toward creating a new vision for an orgaization and chaning its beliefs. purpose, and mission

culture change

the alteration of a patterns of beliefs, values, norms, and expectations shared by organizational members

knowledge management

a method in which organizations enhance their operations through attempts to develop, disseminate, and use knowledge