Lecture 1 MGT 3101 Organizational Behavior Instructor: James Hayton INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR?

Class Overview Introduce ourselves and the subject Go over syllabus and schedule Understand expectations Video (5 minutes) Brief introductory lecture Experiential exercise

What is Organizational Behavior? The scientific study of behavioral processes that occur in work settings Focus is upon individuals, groups, and organizations Topics include employee attitudes, motivation, decision making, organizational structures etc. Foundation is mostly psychology, sociology and some anthropology

Why should we care about OB? Increased knowledge/Personal growth Understanding the human element of organizations Practical applications for future managers

Micro OB Micro-level perspective (within organization) Focus: individuals and groups e.g. demographics, personality, attitudes, behavior Research methods: laboratory and ‘field’ experiments, surveys, ethnography

Macro OB (aka O.T.) Macro level perspective (across organizational approach) Focus: Organizations e.g. goals, culture structures, growth and change Research methods: case studies and surveys

Applies principles of behavioral sciences in the workplace Designing systems to attract, develop, and motivate individuals within an organization Related Fields Organizational Development (OD) Introducing changes in organizations Focuses on changing structure and values Human Resource Management (HRM)

Criticisms of OB as a Field “Findings in field are too obvious” –experiential exercise (p.22): How much do you “know” about human behavior? Hindsight Bias (the tendency to claim that we would have foreseen the relative inevitability of an outcome) –Job satisfaction predicts performance –Reducing the amount of light inhibits performance

Challenges Confronting Managers in the 21st Century Workforce diversity Contingent workers Expression of emotions at work

Workforce Diversity One major conclusion of the Work Force 2000 study was that a large proportion of the new entrants to the labor force for the near future will be from demographic categories other than that of white males. What is the implication? How do we manage diversity?

Contingent Workers The use of contingent, or temporary workers, is surging. –Over 400% percent in the past 15 years Advantages:employers have greater flexibility lower costs Disadvantages: employees may not have a sense of commitment or loyalty

The Expression of Emotions at Work Rise of workplace violence. Contributing factors: –failure to screen for unstable applicants –poor supervision –perceived inequities Workplace romances –legal risks

Review OB has two sides - macro and micro OB knowledge supports applied management fields (e.g. HR, OD) We don’t know as much as we might think about human behavior at work Many changes taking place at work that knowledge of OB can help with