Organizational Behavior Lecture Notes

Flashcards based on Organizational Behavior lecture notes for exam preparation.

Organizational Behavior (OB)

An academic discipline focused on understanding and managing people at work using a systematic and science-based approach, considering the contingency perspective.

The Three Levels in OB

Individual, Group/Team, and Organization.

Soft skills

Human interactions including interpersonal skills and personal attributes, highly valued by employers.

Examples of Interpersonal Skills

Active listening, positive attitudes, and effective communication.

Examples of Personal Attributes

Attitude, personality, teamwork, and leadership.

Criteria for employee promotion

Ability to manage people, strong team skills, and ability to build and manage relationships.

EXCEPT: The contingency approach to OB calls for all of the following EXCEPT:

Relying on one best way to manage situations.

Ethical dilemmas

Situations with two choices, neither of which resolves the situation in an ethically acceptable way.

ILL-CONCEIVED GOALS

Setting goals and incentives to promote a desired behavior, but they encourage a negative one.

MOTIVATED BLINDNESS

Overlooking the unethical behavior of another when it’s in our interest to remain ignorant.

INDIRECT BLINDNESS

Holding others less accountable for unethical behavior when it’s carried out through third parties.

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE

Less able to see others’ unethical behavior when it develops gradually.

OVERVALUING OUTCOMES

Giving a pass to unethical behavior if the outcome is good.

Which of the following statement about ethics is NOT true?

If something is unethical it is also illegal.

Three-Step Approach to problem solving

Define the problem, Identify OB Concepts to Solve the Problem and Make Recommendations and Take Action.

Which one of these is NOT true about defining a problem?

It is advisable to skip this stop and proceed to making recommendations.

Person factors

Characteristics that give individuals their unique identities.

Situation factors

Elements outside us that influence what we do, the way we do it, and the ultimate results of our actions.

Which of the following is MOST IMPORTANT when using OB to solve problems?

Interdependence of person factors and environmental characteristics.

The organizing framework for understanding and applying OB is based upon:

A systems approach, using person and environmental factors as inputs, processes including individual, group or team and organizational level.

Personal Values

Abstract ideals that guide our thinking and behavior across all situations.

Workplace Application of Schwartz’s Value Theory

Managers can better manage their employees when they understand an employees' values and motivation.

Which of the following statements is NOT true about personal values?

In general, values are relatively stable across time and situations;Values are not motivational in nature.

Personal Attitudes

Our feelings or opinions about people, places, and objects.

Three Components of Attitudes

Affective (“I feel…”), Cognitive (“I believe…”), and Behavioral (“I intend…”).

Cognitive Dissonance

The psychological discomfort a person experiences when simultaneously holding two or more conflicting cognitions.

Reduce Cognitive Dissonance by…

Changing attitudes, behaviors, or both; Belittle the importance of the inconsistent behavior and Find consonant elements that outweigh dissonant ones.

Key Workplace Attitudes

Organizational Commitment, Employee Engagement, Perceived Organizational Support and Job Satisfaction.

Organizational Commitment

The extent to which an employee identifies with an organization and is committed to its goals.

Increasing Employee Commitment.

Hire those whose personal values most align with those of the organization; Guard against managerial breaches of psychological contracts and Build the level of trust.