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Organizational behaviour lecture notes
Typology: Schemes and Mind Maps
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The study of Organizational Behavior (OB) is very interesting and challenging too. It is related to individuals, group of people working together in teams. The study becomes more challenging when situational factors interact. The study of organizational behavior relates to the expected behavior of an individual in the organization.No two individuals are likely to behave in the same manner in a particular work situation. It is the predictability of a manager about the expected behavior of an individual. There are no absolutes in human behavior. It is the human factor that is contributory to the productivity hence the study of human behavior is important. Great importance therefore must be attached to the study.
In words of K Aswathappa, “ OB is the study of human behaviour in organisational setting, of the interface between human behaviour and organisation and of the organisation itself.” In words of Stephen P. Robbins, “ OB is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups and structures have on behaviour within organisations for the purpose of applying such knowledge towards improving an organisation’s effectiveness.” According to L. M. Prasad, “ Organisational behaviour can be defined as the study and application of knowledge about human behaviour related to other elements of an organisation such as structure, technology and social systems.” According to Davis and Newstram, “ Organisational behaviour is the study and application of knowledge about how people act within organisations.”
1. A Separate Field of Study and Not a Discipline Only: By definition, a discipline is an accepted science that is based on a theoretical foundation. But, O.B. has a multi- interdisciplinary orientation and is, thus, not based on a specific theoretical background. Therefore, it is better reasonable to call O.B. a separate field of study rather than a discipline only. 2. An Interdisciplinary Approach: Organizational behaviour is essentially an interdisciplinary approach to study human behaviour at work. It tries to integrate the relevant knowledge drawn from related disciplines like psychology, sociology and anthropology to make them applicable for studying and analysing organizational behaviour. 3. An Applied Science:
The very nature of O.B. is applied. What O.B. basically does is the application of various researches to solve the organizational problems related to human behaviour. The basic line of difference between pure science and O.B. is that while the former concentrates of fundamental researches, the latter concentrates on applied researches. O.B. involves both applied research and its application in organizational analysis. Hence, O.B. can be called both science as well as art.
4. A Normative Science: Organizational Behaviour is a normative science also. While the positive science discusses only cause effect relationship, O.B. prescribes how the findings of applied researches can be applied to socially accepted organizational goals. Thus, O.B. deals with what is accepted by individuals and society engaged in an organization. Yes, it is not that O.B. is not normative at all. In fact, O.B. is normative as well that is well underscored by the proliferation of management theories. 5. A Humanistic and Optimistic Approach: Organizational Behaviour applies humanistic approach towards people working in the organization. It, deals with the thinking and feeling of human beings. O.B. is based on the belief that people have an innate desire to be independent, creative and productive. It also realizes that people working in the organization can and will actualise these potentials if they are given proper conditions and environment. Environment affects performance or workers working in an organization. 6 A Total System Approach: The system approach is one that integrates all the variables, affecting organizational functioning. The systems approach has been developed by the behavioural scientists to analyse human behaviour in view of his/her socio- psychological framework. Man’s socio- psychological framework makes man a complex one and the systems approach tries to study his/her complexity and find solution to it.
Use of authority, delegation of certain powers to subordinates, division of labor, efficient communication. Benchmarking, re-engineering, job re-design and empowerment are some of the important factors so that an organization can function as well-oiled machine. This is not only applicable to manufacturing organizations but also to service and social organizations.
Planning: Involves selecting the objectives and actions to achieves them planning stage involves decision making and choosing future courses of action from the various alternatives Organizing: Role of each person in any organization is fixed. The concept of role is who will be doing what should be known, to achieve organizational targets efficiently. It is intended that all the tasks necessary to achieve targets are assigned to people who can do the best. Staffing: Staffing function includes keeping the various organizational position fixed. This activity is done by identifying work force requirements, keeping the records of the performance of people working with the organization. So that suitable people can be prompted and at the same time people performing not up to the mark could be send for training. If all the above activities are taking place in nice way in any organization, it will give rise minimum work force turnover. Directing: Directing means influencing people, so that they will contribute to the organization targets directing involves motivation, leadership styles and proper communication. Controlling: It is the process of comparing the plans with the results. If there is deviation attain taken to be bridge the gap between plan and actual results.
Coordinating: The essence of management is the achievement of coordination among people coordination is a complex process following the principles by which organization activity can be accomplished. Coordinative is possible oniy if all the personnel working in the organization accept the target of the organization. This target must be clearly defined and ‘sold ’to every one concerned.
Organizing is a process that manages how the task is distributed amongst the employees and departments and determines the policies to be followed. The process of organizing consists of seven steps; they are as follows:
- Leadership: Nonprofit leaders tend to establish strong visions and build strong teams. These same leaders, however, seem to be less effective at translating a compelling vision into a set of explicit goals and corresponding priorities. They're even less effective at communicating priorities throughout their organizations. - Decision making and structure: The ability of people to coordinate and work well together across organizational boundaries is an area where nonprofits tend to run into difficulties. Decision-making roles and processes also appear to be a significant weakness. - People: Nonprofits appear to attract good talent and do well placing the right people in the right jobs. However, these employees do not feel that their work is well aligned to the priorities of the organization. What's more, organizations on average have some difficulty evaluating, developing, and rewarding staff consistent with the organizations' priorities. This finding is not surprising, given leadership scores on setting and communicating priorities. Further, nonprofits in general do not appear to prepare adequately for leadership transitions and succession; this area emerged as the biggest weakness overall. - Work processes and systems: Nonprofit employees, on both the program and administrative sides, appear to be skilled and motivated. Working conditions, however, hamper their effectiveness. In particular, work processes are not well defined and resources are scarce. While this last point did not emerge strongly in the survey data, in our work with
nonprofit organizations working conditions crop up repeatedly as a major impediment.
- Culture: Culture is a clear strength. Interestingly, however, ability to execute change is a weakness. This finding may also correlate to the relatively low leadership score in setting priorities. Nonprofit leaders cannot effectively change the direction of their organizations if they do not know what their priorities are and what they want the change to accomplish.