©Du Plessis 2016 - Behaviour in Organizations – Study Task 1 – Chapter 1-2
1
Behaviour in Organizations
Study Task 1
Chapter 1-2
Discuss this Statement:
“Organisational behaviour in a changing South Africa and a changing World.”
___________________________________________________________________________
TAKE NOTE:
*PB = Prescribed Book (Greenberg, J. (2011). Behaviour in organizations (10th ed.). Essex:
Pearson Education Limited)
*RB = Recommended Book (Robbins, S.P., Odendaal, A., & Roodt, G. (2004). Organisational
Behaviour: Global and Southern African Perspectives. Cape Town, Pearson Education South
Africa.)
1. INTRODUCTION:
“Organisations are structured in a social system consisting of groups and individuals working
together to meet some agreed upon objectives. ***Organisations consist of people, who
alone and together in work groups strive for the same goal.” (p. 33, Chap 1 – PB). They
have many different dimensions and aspects that contribute to their success or failure. The
most important dimensions and aspects, is that of human behaviour and its complexities
due to the various factors that influence them in an organisation. It is always important to
remember that, “No matter how good a company’s products may be, there can be no
company without people. From the founder down to the lowest ranking employee it is all
about people. If you’ve ever run or managed a business, you know that “people problems”
can bring an organisation down rapidly.” (p. 32, Chap 1, PB). Understanding the dimensions
and aspects that contribute to “people problems” or “people success” is crucial for
organisations.
, ©Du Plessis 2016 - Behaviour in Organizations – Study Task 1 – Chapter 1-2
2
Through ***Organisational behaviour – The field that seeks to understand individual,
group, and organisational processes in the workplace. (Figure 1.1, p. 35, Chap 1 – PB –
Three levels of Analysis used in organisational behaviour) – it is possible to understand what
drives and changes certain aspects in the workplace. It is a multi-disciplinary approach that
organisations can use, as it answers various questions Managers have regarding their
employees. For example:
• How can goals be set to enhance people’s job performance?
• How can jobs be designed to enhance employees’ feelings of satisfaction?
• What can be done to improve the quality of organisational communication?
• What steps can be taken to alleviate stress?
• What do leaders do to enhance the effectiveness of their teams?
One of the reasons organisational behaviour is essential is that it challenges old assumptions
and seeks best alternatives, for example ***Theory X – A traditional philosophy of
management suggesting that most people are lazy and irresponsible, and will work hard
only when forced to do so – which is negativistic and a more contemporary approach is
***Theory Y – A philosophy of management suggesting that under the right circumstances
people are fully capable of working productively and accepting responsibility for their
work.
(Figure 1.2, p 36, Chap 1 – PB)
Studying Organisational Behaviour (OB) provides insight into work performance. And in
today’s competitive Business world, overlooking this knowledge is a luxury no one can be
without (p. 36, Chap 1). OB has two fundamental assumptions (p. 37-38, Chap 1 – PB):
1
Behaviour in Organizations
Study Task 1
Chapter 1-2
Discuss this Statement:
“Organisational behaviour in a changing South Africa and a changing World.”
___________________________________________________________________________
TAKE NOTE:
*PB = Prescribed Book (Greenberg, J. (2011). Behaviour in organizations (10th ed.). Essex:
Pearson Education Limited)
*RB = Recommended Book (Robbins, S.P., Odendaal, A., & Roodt, G. (2004). Organisational
Behaviour: Global and Southern African Perspectives. Cape Town, Pearson Education South
Africa.)
1. INTRODUCTION:
“Organisations are structured in a social system consisting of groups and individuals working
together to meet some agreed upon objectives. ***Organisations consist of people, who
alone and together in work groups strive for the same goal.” (p. 33, Chap 1 – PB). They
have many different dimensions and aspects that contribute to their success or failure. The
most important dimensions and aspects, is that of human behaviour and its complexities
due to the various factors that influence them in an organisation. It is always important to
remember that, “No matter how good a company’s products may be, there can be no
company without people. From the founder down to the lowest ranking employee it is all
about people. If you’ve ever run or managed a business, you know that “people problems”
can bring an organisation down rapidly.” (p. 32, Chap 1, PB). Understanding the dimensions
and aspects that contribute to “people problems” or “people success” is crucial for
organisations.
, ©Du Plessis 2016 - Behaviour in Organizations – Study Task 1 – Chapter 1-2
2
Through ***Organisational behaviour – The field that seeks to understand individual,
group, and organisational processes in the workplace. (Figure 1.1, p. 35, Chap 1 – PB –
Three levels of Analysis used in organisational behaviour) – it is possible to understand what
drives and changes certain aspects in the workplace. It is a multi-disciplinary approach that
organisations can use, as it answers various questions Managers have regarding their
employees. For example:
• How can goals be set to enhance people’s job performance?
• How can jobs be designed to enhance employees’ feelings of satisfaction?
• What can be done to improve the quality of organisational communication?
• What steps can be taken to alleviate stress?
• What do leaders do to enhance the effectiveness of their teams?
One of the reasons organisational behaviour is essential is that it challenges old assumptions
and seeks best alternatives, for example ***Theory X – A traditional philosophy of
management suggesting that most people are lazy and irresponsible, and will work hard
only when forced to do so – which is negativistic and a more contemporary approach is
***Theory Y – A philosophy of management suggesting that under the right circumstances
people are fully capable of working productively and accepting responsibility for their
work.
(Figure 1.2, p 36, Chap 1 – PB)
Studying Organisational Behaviour (OB) provides insight into work performance. And in
today’s competitive Business world, overlooking this knowledge is a luxury no one can be
without (p. 36, Chap 1). OB has two fundamental assumptions (p. 37-38, Chap 1 – PB):
