1. Chapter 1 Introduction to Organizational Behavior
Essentials of
Organizational Behavior, 10/e
Stephen P. Robbins & Timothy A. Judge
Chapter 1 Introduction to Organizational Behavior

2. After reading this chapter, you should be able to:
Define organizational behavior (OB).
Explain the value of the systematic study of OB.
Identify the contributions made to OB by major behavioral science disciplines.
Describe how OB concepts can help make organizations more productive.
List the major challenges and opportunities for managers to use OB concepts.
Identify the three levels of analysis in OB.

3. KEY WORDS, VOCABULARY Organizational Behavior – p. 2
Absenteeism – p. 2
Employment turnover – p. 2
Systematic study – p. 3
Evidence-based management – p. 3, 4
Intuition – p. 4
Psychology – p. 4

4. KEY WORDS, VOCABULARY Social Psychology Sociology – p. 5
Anthropology – p. 6
Contingency variables – p. 6
Diversity – p. 7, 8
Globalization – p. 7
Organizational Scholarship – p. 12

5. DISCUSSION QUESTION
What do you think is the cause of the biggest problems for managers?
1. Poor communication
2. Employees lack of motivation, not working hard enough
3. Conflicts between team members
4. Employees resisting, not wanting to change
5. People problems

6. The Field of Organizational Behavior p.2
Organizational Behavior studies the influence that individuals, groups and organizational structure have on behavior within organizations.
Its main goal is to apply that knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness.

7. DISCUSSION QUESTION
What are the 3 things that influence behavior in an organization:
1. Individuals
2. Groups
3. Organizational Structure

8. Focal Points of OB Jobs Work Absenteeism Employment turnover
Productivity
Human performance
Management

9. Complementing Intuition with p. 3, 4 Systematic 系统的 (Xìtǒng de) Study
Intuition: the “gut feeling” explanation of behavior.
Systematic study improves ability to be able to predict behavior.
Assumes behavior is not random.
Fundamental consistencies determine behavior.
These can be identified to reflect individual differences.

10. Systematic Study p. 3 Examines relationships.
Attempts to find causes and effects.
Bases conclusions on scientific evidence:
On data gathered under controlled conditions.
Data is measured and interpreted in a certain manner.

11. Evidence-Based Management p. 3,4
Works with systematic study.
Bases decisions on the best available scientific evidence.
Forces managers to become more scientific in their thinking.

12. Contributing Disciplines to the OB Field p. 5
Psychology
Social Psychology
Sociology
Anthropology
Micro:
The Individual
Macro:
Groups &
Organizations

13. Psychology – Looks at individual behavior
The contributions made to OB by major behavioral science disciplines are:
Psychology – Looks at individual behavior
Social Psychology – People’s influence on one another.
Sociology – People in relation to their environment or organizational culture.
Anthropology – Behavior of people from different cultures and countries

14. Few Absolutes in OB p. 6
Impossible to make simple and accurate assumptions or generalizations
Human beings are complex and diverse
OB concepts must reflect situational conditions: contingency variables
Input “A”
Condition “C”
Behavior “B”

15. Challenges and Opportunities for OB p. 6, 7
The workplace contains a wide mix of cultures, races, ethnic groups, genders and ages, known as Workplace Diversity
Employees have to learn to cope or deal with rapid change due to global competition
Corporate loyalty has decreased due to corporate downsizing and use of temp workers
Managers can benefit from OB theory and concepts

16. Responding to Globalization p. 7
Increased foreign assignments
Differing needs and aspirations in workforce
Working with people from different cultures
Domestic motivational techniques and managerial styles may not work
Overseeing movement of jobs to countries with low-cost labor

17. Managing Workforce Diversity p. 7, 8
organizations are becoming a more heterogeneous mix of people in terms of gender, age, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation

18. Diversity Implications
“Managers have to shift their thinking from treating everyone alike to recognizing differences and responding to the differences in ways that keep employees and make them more productive while, at the same time, not discriminating (not choosing one over another).”

19. OB Offers Insights Into: p. 9
Improving quality and productivity
Customer service and building a customer-responsive culture
Developing people skills

20. OB Aids in Dealing With: p. 9, 10
Stimulating Innovation and Change
Increasing “temporariness” in the workplace
Helping employees balance work-life conflicts
Improving ethical behavior

21. Thinking Positive p. 11, 12
Creating a positive work environment can be a competitive advantage
Positive Organizational Scholarship (Positive OB):
Examines how organizations develop human strengths, create excitement and not giving up, and encourage, unlock potential.
Focus is on employee strengths, not their weaknesses.

22. Three Levels of OB Analysis p. 12
Chapters
Chapters
Chapters 2 - 7
Plan of the Book

23. Implications for Managers p. 13
OB helps with:
1. Improving people skills
2. Valuing workforce diversity
3. Empowering people and creating a positive work environment
4. Dealing with labor shortages
5. Coping in a world of temporariness
6. Creating an ethical workplace

24. Keep in Mind…
OB’s goal is to understand and predict human behavior in organizations.
Fundamental consistencies underlie behavior.
It is more important than ever to learn OB concepts.
Both managers and employees must learn to cope with temporariness.

25. Chapter 1 Summary
PPT 1.6
Organizational Behavior (OB) studies the influence that individuals, groups and structure have on behavior within organizations. The main goal is to apply that knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness.
The value of the systematic study of OB is that it examines relationships rather than assuming that behavior is “whatever happens.” The study attempts to look for cause and effects. Conclusions about behavior is based on data gathered under controlled situations and is measured systematically. There is a reason for why people behave like they do.

26. Chapter 1 Summary Psychology – Looks at individual behavior
3. The contributions made to OB by major behavioral science disciplines are:
Psychology – Looks at individual behavior
Social Psychology – People’s influence on one another.
Sociology – People in relation to their environment or organizational culture.
Anthropology – Behavior of people from different cultures and countries

27. Chapter 1 Summary
4. OB concepts can help make organizations be more productive, improve quality, customer service and people skills.
5. Major challenges and opportunities for managers
Include:
Diversity which includes working with: people from different cultures, race, religion, gender and age
Corporate downsizing – more use of temporary workers. Less loyalty or commitment from the employer and also for the employee.
Globalization – more foreign assignments, jobs moving to different countries, different cultures

28. Chapter 1 Summary
The three levels of OB analysis move from the Individual level of behavior to the Group level of behavior and up to the Organizational System level, or Culture. Slide 17 for the picture. This is what we will be covering during this course

29. Class Activity: Self Esteem Animal Perceptions
Lion
Dog
Parrot
Elephant
Copyright © 2004 Pearson Addison-Wesley. All rights reserved.

30. Homework Assignment Complete a personality test.
Go to tg.chouti.com and write down your 4 letters and bring to class.
You can read more about your personality type by clicking on this link:  
© Prentice Hall 2006
6-13

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