Essentials of
Organizational Behavior, 10/e
Stephen P. Robbins & Timothy A. Judge
Chapter 1
Introduction to
Organizational Behavior
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1-1
After reading this chapter, you
should be able to:
1. Define organizational behavior (OB).
2. Explain the value of the systematic study of OB.
3. Identify the contributions made to OB by major
behavioral science disciplines.
4. Describe how OB concepts can help make organizations
more productive.
5. List the major challenges and opportunities for
managers to use OB concepts.
6. Identify the three levels of analysis in OB.
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1-2
The Field of Organizational
Behavior
p.2
Organizational Behavior studies the
influence that individuals, groups
and structure have on behavior
within organizations.
Its chief goal is to apply that knowledge
toward improving an organization’s
effectiveness.
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Focal Points of OB
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Jobs
Work
Absenteeism
Employment turnover
Productivity
Human performance
Management
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Complementing Intuition with
Systematic Study
p. 3,4
• Intuition: the “gut feeling”
explanation of behavior.
• Systematic study improves ability to
accurately predict behavior.
 Assumes behavior is not random.
 Fundamental consistencies determine
behavior.
 These can be identified and modified to
reflect individual differences.
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Systematic Study
p. 3
• Examines relationships.
• Attempts to attribute causes and
effects.
• Bases conclusions on scientific
evidence:
 On data gathered under controlled
conditions.
 Data is measured and interpreted in
a reasonably rigorous manner.
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Evidence-Based Management
p. 3,4
• Works with systematic
study.
• Bases decisions on the
best available scientific
evidence.
• Forces managers to
become more scientific
in their thinking.
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1-7
Contributing Disciplines
to the OB Field
Micro:
The
Individual
p. 5
Psychology
Social Psychology
Macro:
Groups &
Organizations
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Sociology
Anthropology
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Few Absolutes in OB p. 6
• Impossible to make simple and accurate
generalizations
• Human beings are complex and diverse
• OB concepts must reflect situational
conditions: contingency variables
Input “A”
Condition
“C”
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Behavior
“B”
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Challenges and Opportunities
for OB
p. 6, 7
• The workplace contains a wide mix of
cultures, races, ethnic groups, genders
and ages, known as Workplace Diversity
• Employees have to learn to cope or deal with
rapid change due to global competition
• Corporate loyalty has decreased due to
corporate downsizing and use of temp workers
• Managers can benefit from OB theory and
concepts
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1-10
Responding to Globalization
p. 7
• Increased foreign assignments
 Differing needs and aspirations in
workforce
• Working with people from
different cultures
 Domestic motivational techniques
and managerial styles may not
work
• Overseeing movement of jobs
to countries with low-cost labor
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Managing Workforce
Diversity
p. 7, 8
Workforce diversity:
organizations are
becoming a more
heterogeneous mix of
people in terms of
gender, age, race,
ethnicity, and sexual
orientation
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1-12
Diversity Implications
“Managers have to shift their
philosophy from treating
everyone alike to recognizing
differences and responding to
those differences in ways
that ensure employee
retention and greater
productivity while, at the
same time, not
discriminating.”
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OB Offers Insights Into: p. 9
• Improving quality and
productivity
• Customer service and
building a customerresponsive culture
• Developing people skills
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OB Aids in Dealing With:
p. 9, 10
• Stimulating Innovation
and Change
• Increasing
“temporariness” in the
workplace
• Helping employees
balance work-life conflicts
• Improving ethical
behavior
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1-15
Thinking Positive
p. 11, 12
• Creating a positive work environment can
be a competitive advantage
• Positive Organizational Scholarship
(Positive OB):
 Examines how organizations develop human
strengths, foster vitality and resilience, and
unlock potential.
 Focus is on employee strengths, not their
weaknesses.
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1-16
Three Levels of OB Analysis
p. 12
Chapters 14 - 16
Chapters 8 - 13
Chapters 2 - 7
Plan of the Book
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1-17
Implications for Managers
p. 13
• OB helps with:
 Insights to improve people skills
 Valuing of workforce diversity
 Empowering people and
creating a positive work
environment
 Dealing with labor shortages
 Coping in a world of
temporariness
 Creating an ethically healthy
work environment
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Keep in Mind…
• OB’s goal is to understand and predict
human behavior in organizations.
• Fundamental consistencies underlie
behavior.
• It is more important than ever to learn OB
concepts.
• Both managers and employees must learn
to cope with temporariness.
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1-19
Chapter 1 Summary
PPT 1.6
1. Organizational Behavior (OB) studies the influence
that individuals, groups and structure have on
behavior within organizations. The main goal is
to apply that knowledge toward improving an
organization’s effectiveness.
2. The value of the systematic study of OB is that it
examines relationships rather than assuming that
behavior is “whatever happens.” The study
attempts to look for cause and effects. Conclusions
about behavior is based on data gathered under
controlled situations and is measured
systematically. There is a reason for why people
behave like they do.
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1-20
Chapter 1 Summary
The contributions made to OB by major
behavioral science disciplines are:
Psychology – Looks at individual
behavior
Social Psychology – People’s
influence on one another.
Sociology – People in relation to their
environment or organizational culture.
Anthropology – Behavior of people
from different cultures and countries
3.
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Chapter 1 Summary
4.
OB concepts can help make organizations be
more productive, improve quality, customer service and
people skills.
5.
Major challenges and opportunities for managers
Include:
Diversity which includes working with: people from
different cultures, race, religion, gender and age
Corporate downsizing – more use of temporary
workers. Less loyalty or commitment from the employer
and also for the employee.
Globalization – more foreign assignments, jobs
moving to different countries, different cultures
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1-22
Chapter 1 Summary
6. The three levels of OB analysis
move from the Individual level of
behavior to the Group level of
behavior and up to the
Organizational System level, or
Culture. Slide 17 for the picture.
This is what we will be covering
during this course
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Class Activity: Self Esteem
Animal Perceptions
•
•
•
•
Lion
Dog
Parrot
Elephant
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Homework Assignment
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Complete a personality test.
Go to tg.chouti.com and write down your 4
letters and bring to class.
You can read more about your personality
type by clicking on this link:
http://www.truity.com/view/types
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6-13
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