Organizational Behavior
Organizational Behavior (OB) is the study of human behavior within organizations and the interface between human behavior and the organization itself. It encompasses a wide array of topics, including:
- Individual Behavior: Personality, perception, learning, motivation, and emotions.
- Group Dynamics: Leadership, power, politics, conflict, and team processes.
- Organizational Processes: Organizational culture, change, development, and structure.
History and Development
The field of Organizational Behavior has its roots in several disciplines:
- Industrial Psychology: Emerging in the early 20th century, this discipline focused on improving productivity by understanding worker needs and motivations. Key figures include Hugo Münsterberg, known for his work on applying psychology to business.
- Human Relations Movement: In the 1920s and 1930s, scholars like Elton Mayo with his Hawthorne Studies highlighted the importance of social relations in the workplace, showing that workers were motivated by more than just economic incentives.
- Organizational Theory: This evolved from the study of Management and Administrative Science, focusing on how organizations could be structured for efficiency. Max Weber's work on bureaucracy and Frederick Taylor's Scientific Management are foundational here.
- Behavioral Science: Incorporating elements from psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science, this approach looks at organizational behavior through a broader social lens.
Key Concepts and Theories
- Motivation Theories: From Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, these theories explain what drives employees to perform.
- Leadership Theories: Including Trait Theory, Transformational Leadership, and Situational Leadership, which explore how leaders influence organizational behavior.
- Organizational Culture: The shared values, beliefs, and norms that shape the behavior within an organization.
- Change Management: How organizations manage transitions, including models like Lewin's Change Management Model and Kotter's 8-Step Process for Leading Change.
Applications
Organizational Behavior principles are applied in:
- Designing jobs that enhance motivation and satisfaction.
- Developing leadership training programs.
- Implementing change management strategies.
- Improving organizational communication and conflict resolution.
External Resources
Related Topics