Organizational Behavior- Chapter 1

Human behavior falls into what 2 categories?

Internal Perspective and External Perspective

Challenge

Call to competition, contest or battle

Ways Change Efforts Could Be Successful

Choose Change Carefully, Allow Open Debates, Explain Benefits

External Task Environment

Composed of suppliers, customers and federal regulators

Hawthorne Studies

Conducted during the 1920s and 1930s that suggested the importance of the informal organization

Variables that affect human behavior at work

Jobs, the design of work, communication, performance appraisal, organizational structure and organizational design

Opportunities

Favorable times or chances for progress and advancement

Outputs

Finished products for customers, consumers and clients

People

Human resources of the organization

Inputs

Human, informational, material and financial resources used by an organization

Non-Profit Sector

Important for collective well-being

Service Sector

Includes transportation, financial services, insurance and retail sales (68% of U.S. GDP)

Reasons Change Efforts Fail

Lack of Urgency, Don't Trust Leaders, Communication Issues, Inflexibility and Poor Conflict Handling

Six Sigma

A philosophy first used my Motorola which has evolved into a system of executing business strategies

Skill Development

Based on knowledge and the understanding of oneself in order to master abilities essential to success

Informal Organization

Unofficial, less visible part of system (culture, hours people work, dress code)

Private Sector

Variety of organizations who play a vital role in the economy (84% of organizations)

External Perspective

Looks at factors outside the person to understand behavior, includes external events, consequences and environmental forces

Internal Perspective

Looks at worker's mind to understand behavior, focuses on thoughts and feelings, as well as past experiences of the individual

Formal Organization

Official, legitimate, most visible part of system (structure, benefits, work space)

Organizations

Open systems of interacting components, including people, task, technology and structure

What are the 4 major internal components in understanding an open system?

Task, people, technology and structure

Psychology

The science of human behavior, includes fields such as clinical, experimental, military, organizational and social

Anthropology

The science of human learned behavior, important to understanding organizational culture

Sociology

The science of society, focuses on roles with culture, norms and standards of behavior and consequences (good and bad)

Organizational Behavior

The study of individual behavior and group dynamics in organizations. Focused on psychosocial, interpersonal and behavioral dynamics of an organization

Management

The study of overseeing activities and supervising people. Includes design, implementation and management of the administrative practices that enhance the organization

Structure

The system of communication, authority and roles, and workflow

Total Quality Management (TQM)

The total dedication to continuous improvement and to meet customers' needs/expectations

Technology

The wide range of tools, knowledge and techniques used to transform inputs into outputs

Change

Transformation or modification of an organization and/or its stakeholders

Skills Required for Success in the Workplace

Resource Management (time management), Information Management (data interpretation), Personal Interaction (teamwork), System Behavior and Performance (cause-effect relationship) and Technology Utilization (troubleshooting)

Objective Knowledge

Results from research, experimentation and specific observations

How do people respond to change normally?

Rigid and reactive rather than open and responsive

3 Questions when Evaluating Quality Improvement

(1) Does the idea improve customer response? (2) Does the idea accelerate results? (3) Does the idea increase effectiveness of resources?

Four Reasons Managing Organizational Behavior is Challenging

(1) Globalization (2) Diversity (3) Ethics and Character (4) Technology

Eric Brown's steps to adapting to change

(1) Have a positive attitude (2) Ask questions (3) Listen to the answers (4) Be committed to success

Four Phases of Six Sigma

(1) Measure (2) Analyze (3) Improve (4) Control

Three Guidelines for Skill Development

(1) Students must accept responsibility for their actions (2) Students must actively participate in activities (3) Students must be open to new information, skills and ideas

Throughputs

Materials and resources as they are transformed by the organization's technology component

Manufacturing Sector

Production of basic materials (steel) and finished products (automobiles)

Government Sector

Provides essential infrastructure (16% of organizations)

Engineering

The applied sciences of energy and matter, it enhances our understanding of the design of work (Frederick Taylor)

Medicine

The applied sciences of treating diseases to enhance an individual's health and well-being

Task

The mission of the organization, along with its purpose or goal for existing