Chapter 2

Foundations of
Individual Behaviour

Dr. C V Ramanan
FACULTY : Professor & Spiritual Sadhak
Inspirational Speaker & Life Coach
Individual Behaviour

If we want to explain and predict behaviour, we

need to understand how people learn.

Managers can facilitate employee learning.

22
Biographical Characteristics

Personal characteristics such as age, gender and

marital status are objective and easily obtained
from personnel records.

23
Ability, Intellect and Intelligence

Ability
An individuals capacity to perform the various tasks
in a job.

Intellectual Ability
The capacity to do mental activities.

Multiple Intelligences
Intelligence contains four subparts:
cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural.

24
Physical Abilities

The capacity to do tasks demanding stamina,

dexterity, strength, and similar characteristics.

25
Learning

Any relatively permanent change in behaviour

that occurs as a result of experience.

Learning
Involves change
Is relatively permanent
Is acquired through experience

How do we learn?

26
Individual Learning

The process of acquiring new skills and knowledge.

The concept of learning can be better understood with

the help of learning theories
27
Theories of Learning

Ivan Pavlov's Classical Conditioning Theory

A type of conditioning in which an individual responds
to some stimulus that would not ordinarily produce such
a response.

28
Theories of Learning

Ivan Pavlov's Classical Conditioning Theory

Process by which individuals learn reflex behaviours.

A reflex is an involuntary or an automatic response

that is not under an individual's conscious control.

29
Theories of Learning

Reinforcement Theory

Edward Thorndike laid the foundation by explaining the

Law of Effect.
"Behaviours that result in pleasing outcomes are likely
to be repeated and behaviours resulting in unpleasant
outcomes are not likely to be repeated..."

210
Theories of Learning

Operant Conditioning(Skinner theory)

It can be defined as a form of learning in which

behaviours are dependent on, or controlled by its
rewards and consequences.
Any action that has been followed by reinforcement
(whether positive or negative) will be strengthened and
it is highly likely that the particular action will be
repeated again in the future.

211
Theories of Learning

Albert Bandura's Social Learning

"Most human behaviour is learned from observing others.

One forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed
and on later occasions, this coded information serves as
a guide for action".
Attention
Retention People can learn through
observation and direct
Reproduction
experience.
Motivation

212
Theories of Learning

213
Theories of Learning

Cognitive Theory

Broadens the study of learning to include cognitive

processes as thinking, knowing, problem solving
and remembering.

214
Theories of Learning

Shaping Behaviour
Systematically reinforcing each successive step that
moves an individual closer to the desired response.

215
Types of Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement
Providing a reward for a desired behaviour.
Negative reinforcement
Removing an unpleasant consequence when the
desired behaviour occurs.
Punishment
Applying an undesirable condition to eliminate an
undesirable behaviour.
Extinction
Elimination of undesired behaviour by removal of a
desired consequence for the employee.

216
Schedules of Reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement
A desired behaviour is reinforced each time it is
demonstrated.

Intermittent Reinforcement
A desired behaviour is reinforced often enough to
make the behaviour worth repeating but not every
time it is demonstrated.

217
Schedules of Reinforcement

Fixed-Interval Schedule
Rewards are spaced at uniform time intervals.

Variable-Interval Schedule
Rewards desired behaviour after random intervals of
time.

218
Schedules of Reinforcement

Fixed Ratio Schedule

When reinforcements are given every nth time a
desired behaviour occurs.

Variable Ratio Schedule

Desired behaviour is rewarded randomly in terms of
number of times it occurs.

219
Behaviour Modification

When operant conditioning techniques are used to

control behaviour.

Luthans & Kreitner's OB Mod - Organisational

Behaviour Modification.

The systematic reinforcement or strengthening of

desirable behaviour of employees and the non-
reinforcement or punishment of unwanted behaviour.

220
Behaviour Modification

OB Mod
The application of reinforcement concepts
to individuals in the work setting.

Five Step Problem-Solving Model

1. Identify critical behaviours
2. Develop baseline data
3. Identify behavioural consequences
4. Develop and apply intervention
5. Evaluate performance improvement
221
OB MOD Organisational Applications

Respect for Regularity

Employee Discipline

Developing Training Programs

Self Management

222
Case Study

A real-life Corporate Case highlighting

Structure
Relationships
Boss as CFPG
Career Plans
Succession Planning

Dr. C V Ramanan
Professor & Spiritual Sadhak
Inspirational Speaker & Life Coach