Organizational Behaviour ( OB)

This is an interdisciplinary field

dedicated to the study of how individuals and groups tend to act in organizations.

Why is a knowledge of OB important to managers?

By understanding what causes people

to behave as they do, managers can exercise leadership to achieve positive outcomes. They can foster behaviors such as organizational citizenship, that is, work behaviour that goes beyond job requirements and contributes as needed to the organizations success.

How does an employee demonstrate Organizational citizenship?

An employee demonstrates

organizational citizenship by helping coworkers and customers, doing extra work when necessary, and looking for ways to improve products and procedures.

How can managers encourage Organizational citizenship?

Managers can encourage

organizational citizenship by applying their knowledge of human behaviour in many ways such as selecting people with positive attitudes and personalities, helping them to see how they can contribute and enabling them to learn to cope with workplace

Attitude

A cognitive and affective

evaluation that influence a person to act in a certain way.

Components of attitude
Cognitions ( thoughts)

Affect ( feelings)
Behaviour

Components of attitude

The cognitive component of an

attitude includes the beliefs, opinions and information the person has about the object of the attitude, such as knowledge of what a job entails and opinions about personal abilities. E.g my job is interesting

Components of attaitude

The affective component is the

persons emotions or feelings about the object of the attitude, such as enjoying or hating a job. E.g feelings I love my job

Components of attitude

The behavioral component of an

attitude is the persons intention to behave toward the object of the attitude in a certain way. E.g intention to act. I am going to get to work early with a smile on my face.

Attitudes that are associated with high performance

Job satisfaction- a positive attitude

towards ones job. People experience this attitude when their work matches their needs and interest, when working conditions and rewards ( such as pay) are satisfactory, and when the employees like their coworkers.

 Organizational commitment- loyalty to and heavy

involvement in ones organization. An employee with a high degree of organizational commitment is likely to say we when talking about the organization. Such person tries to contribute to the organizations success and wishes to remain with the organization.

Personality

The set of characteristics that

underlie a relative stable pattern of behaviour in response to ideas, objects or people in the environment.

Personality

Understanding an individuals

personality can help managers predict how that person will act in a particular situation.

Big Five Personality Trait

Dimensions that describe an

individuals extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability and openness to experience.

Big Five Personality Trait

Extroversion- the degree to which a

person is sociable, talkative, assertive, and comfortable with interpersonal relationships. Agreeableness- the degree to which a person is able to get along with others by being good- natured, cooperative, forgiving, understanding, and trusting.

Big Five Personality Trait

Conscientiousness- the degree

to which a person is focused on a few goals, thus behaving in ways that are responsible, dependable, persistent and achievement oriented.

Big Five Personality Trait

Emotional Stability- the degree to

which a person is calm, enthusiastic, and secure, rather than tense, nervous, depressed, moody or insecure Openness to experience. The degree to which a person has a broad range of interest and is imaginative, creative, artistically sensitive, and willing to consider new ideas.