Chapter 4

Individual in the Organization

Organization are highly interesting areas for studying
behavior. Organizations have great influence on our lives,
for both good and bad.

The organization operates in a complex system of values

and relationships which may be conceptualized as a social
system.
SOCIAL SYSTEM
A system may be defined as a series of interrelated and
interdependent parts, such that the interaction or
interplay of any of the subsystems affect the whole.

Organization, where human behavior exists is likened to

a human system where each organ and limb has to
function properly in a coordinated manner if it has to be
efficient and healthy.
Human Organization
Human organization as a system can be likened to a
human model using the biological approach which
considers the nervous, circulatory, digestive,
reproductive, etc system as separate system.

Each of these individual systems is a subsystem of the

total system which is interrelated and interdependent.

In addition to this model, the psychological perspective of

human system will also be considered. The important
variables --- feelings, values, and norms of behavior all
interact with other variables. These are influenced by
other variables.
In the system of roles each individual has a specific role
to play with each of the roles coordinated with more
integrated pattern.

Role is the sum total of behavior patterns expected of a

person in his activities involving other roles.
Status is a position accorded to an individual in the
social system.

Ascribed status – status may be fixed and beyond the

control of the individual (sex, skin color or ancestry).

Achieved status - position subject to control by

individuals (personal skills, abilities or efforts).

Role conflicts – is the condition when the changes in

status and roles are disruptive
ORGANIZATION

Organization means the social units (human groupings)

deliberately constructed and reconstructed to seek
specific goals.

Organization is a human activity and, at the same time, it

is a group of people. It exists because of an objective
which it seeks to obtain effectively and efficiently.
Concepts of Organization
An organization is a structural process which persons
interact for objectives.

The view of organization contains several important

points.

1. The organization is always made up of people.

2. The people in organizations interacts, that is, the

people in organization are related to one another in
some way.

3. The interactions of people are ordered by some

structure that can be described.

4. The structured interactions are designed to achieve

the personal objectives of the people interacting.
The Organization Context

A complete understanding of organizational

behavior requires both an understanding of
human behavior and the understanding of the
organization context within which human
behaviors is acted out.
ORGANIZATION AS SOCIAL SYSTEMS

As a social system the organization comprises

many interrelated subsystems or groups which
include: the administrative/structural subsystems;
the information/decision making subsystems; the
economic/technological subsystem; and the
human/social subsystem.
The Interrelated Subsystem
of an Organization
HUMAN RESOURCES IN
ORGANIZATIONS: ITS IMPORTANCE
The most important elements or organizations are the
human resources.

Human resource is important from three related but

different point of view: in its capacity as management, in its
capacity as worker, and in its capacity as determinants of
technology.

As managerial resource

As non-managerial resource

As determinants of technology
ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF
ORGANIZATION AFFECTING BEHAVIOR
1. Hierarchy of authority

2. Rules, procedures, controls and techniques

3. Formality of communication

4. Specialization of function and division of labor

5. Employment of skilled personnel

6. Specificity of purpose
INFORMAL GROUPS IN THE
ORGANIZATION
Informal Groups arise and persist because they
perform desired functions for their members.

The Formal Organization is the part of the system

that has legitimacy and official recognition while the
Informal Organization is the unofficial part of the
system.
Some Functions of Informal Organization:
1.To perpetuate cultural values which the group holds dear.

2.Provides social satisfactions; it gives man recognition, status

and further opportunity to relate to others. In order to meet
wants and to keep its members informed of what the group is
taking place that may affect satisfaction of wants, the group
develops systems and channels of communication.

3.Social control in both internal & external

Internal Control - directed towards making members of the

group conform to its culture.

External Control – directed toward those outside the group

such as, management, union leadership & other informal
groups.
Benefits of Informal Organization

1. They blend with formal systems to make a workable

system for getting work done.
-some requirements can be met better in informal
relations which can be flexible and spontaneous as formal
plans and policies are already pre-established and partly
inflexible.

2. It gives satisfaction and stability to group works.

-it is the means by which workers achieve a sense of
belonging and security.
Interpersonal Relations in the
Organizations

The organization prescribes behavior to be followed by its

members setting expectancies in accordance to the impersonal
roles of the organization. These expected behavior of roles
acquires social acceptability by other members of the group.

There is formal organization when work behavior is patterned

from organizational guidelines. But within these larger groups
are smaller groups who interact with one another, associating on
a social basis, creating the informal organization which defines
the social interaction of the workers. These social relations
influence the behavior, the morale and productivity and the
formal organization as a whole.
The members’ adherence to organization standards is
maintained by disciplines, rewards and punishment. Discipline
is employed self-control to meet organizational standards and
objectives.

When there is mutual cooperative relations between employers

and employees and fellow employees in the achievement of
goals, there is improvement in workers’ efficiency and
productivity is enhanced with minimum conflict between
management and labor.

Two-way employment relationship: the organization have

responsibilities to the individual, and the individual have
responsibilities to the organization as well.

This relationship becomes profitable for both when payoffs

(outputs) are larger than the investments (inputs), measured
in the total value system. The profitable relationship
deteriorates if either party fails to act responsibly towards the
needs of the other.
ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

Organizational culture refers to a system of shared

meaning held by the members that distinguishes the
organization from other organizations.

A dominant culture expresses the core value that are

shared by a majority of organization members.
Key Characteristics of
Organizational Culture
1. Member identify

2. Group emphasis

3. People focus

4. Unit integration

5. Control

6. Risk tolerance

7. Reward criteria

8. Conflict tolerance

9. Means-ends orientation

10. Open system focus

Culture’s Function
Culture performs a number of functions within an
organization.

1.It has boundary-defining role, that is, it creates

distinctions between one organization and the others.

2.It conveys a sense of identity for organization members.

3.Culture facilitates the generation of commitment to

something larger that one’s individual self-interest.

4.It enhances social system stability.

Culture is the social glue that helps hold the organization

together by providing appropriate standars for what
emplotees should say and do.
- End-