BUAD309 CHAPTER 1
theory
A collection of verbal and symbolic assertions that specify how and why variables are related, and the conditions under which they should and should not relate
system
A set of interrelated elements functioning as a whole
meta-analysis
A statistical technique used to combine the results of many different research studies done in a variety of organizations and for a variety of jobs
competitive advantage
Anything that gives a firm an edge over rivals in attracting customers and defending itself against com
growth strategy
Company expansion organically or through acquisitions
customer intimacy
Delivering unique and customizable products or services to meet customers' needs and increase customer loyalty
differential strategy
Developing a product or service that has unique characteristics valued by customers
product innovation
Developing new products or services
specialization strategy
Focusing on a narrow market segment or niche and pursuing either a differentiation or cost leadership strategy within that market segment
operational excellence
Maximizing the efficiency of the manufacturing or product development process to minimize costs
scientific management
Maximizing the efficiency of the manufacturing or product development process to minimize costs Based on the belief that productivity is maximized when organizations are rationalized with precise sets of instructions based on time‐and‐motion studies
scientific method
Method of knowledge generation that relies on systematic studies that identify and replicate a result using a variety of methods, samples, and settings
correlation
Reflects the size and strength of the statistical relationship between two variables; ranges from −1 to +1
organizing
The process of designing jobs, grouping jobs into units, and establishing patterns of authority between jobs and units
planning
The process of determining an organization's desired future position and the best means of getting there
leading
The process of getting the organization's members to work together toward the organization's goals
controlling
The process of monitoring and correcting the actions of the organization and its members to keep them directed toward their goals
human resource management
The set of organizational activities directed at attracting, developing, and maintaining an effective workforce
technical skills
The skills necessary to accomplish specific tasks within the organization
organizational behavior
The study of human behavior in organizational settings, the interface between human behavior and the organization, and the organization itself.
Hawthorne effect
When people improve some aspect of their behavior or performance simply because they are being assessed
hypotheses
Written predictions specifying expected relationships between certain variables
organizational citizenship
The behavior of individuals that makes a positive overall contribution to the organization
cost leadership strategy
Striving to be the lowest‐cost producer for a particular level of product quality
situational perspective
Suggests that in most organizations, situations and outcomes are influenced by other variables
interactionalism
Suggests that individuals and situations interact continuously to determine individuals' behavior
conceptual skills
The ability think in the abstract
interpersonal skills
The ability to effectively communicate with, understand, and motivate individuals and groups
diagnostic skills
The ability to understand cause‐and‐effect relationships and to recognize the optimal solutions to problems
dependent variable
The variable predicted to be affected by something else
independent variable
The variable that is predicted to affect something else
dysfunctional behaviors
Those that detract from, rather than contribute to, organizational performance
human relations movement
Views organizations as cooperative systems and treats workers' orientations, values, and feelings as important parts of organizational dynamics and performance