Organizational behavior
Lecture 1
Critical approach
We want to challenge assumptions and stimulate critical thinking
‘’Critical thinking includes the component skills of analyzing arguments, making inferences using
inductive or deductive reasoning, judging or evaluating, and making decisions or solving problems.
Background knowledge is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for enabling critical thought
within a given subject. Critical thinking involves both cognitive skills and dispositions.’’
What is Organizational Behavior (OB)?
- ‘’The study of the structure and management of organization, their environments, and the
actions and interactions of their individual members and groups.’’
- Organizational behavior refers to the activities and interactions of people in organizations
An example
,How can behavior in organizations be explained?
How important is OB?
- The main restraint to human aspiration is not intellect or equipment, but our ability to work
together.
- Most man-made disasters have been traced to organization and management factors
o Deepwater Horizon oil spill, 2010
o Korean Air Flight 801, 1997
o Chernobyl, 1986
What does OB do?
Social science is a different kind of science
Goals of science
Description:
- How people understand and interpret their circumstances.
- Using observation, asking questions, study documents
- How can we observe learning?
Prediction:
- Precise prediction is very difficult
- The focus is often on groups
Explanation:
- How can we explain human behavior?
, - Job satisfaction → Good performance
- Good performance → Job satisfaction
Control/ Ability to change:
- Findings are often designed to encourage change
Social science is a different kind of science
Social science and practice
Evidence-based management (EBMgt)
To use the latest and best research evidence in managing people and organizations, to improve
decision-making quality
Lecture 1
Critical approach
We want to challenge assumptions and stimulate critical thinking
‘’Critical thinking includes the component skills of analyzing arguments, making inferences using
inductive or deductive reasoning, judging or evaluating, and making decisions or solving problems.
Background knowledge is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for enabling critical thought
within a given subject. Critical thinking involves both cognitive skills and dispositions.’’
What is Organizational Behavior (OB)?
- ‘’The study of the structure and management of organization, their environments, and the
actions and interactions of their individual members and groups.’’
- Organizational behavior refers to the activities and interactions of people in organizations
An example
,How can behavior in organizations be explained?
How important is OB?
- The main restraint to human aspiration is not intellect or equipment, but our ability to work
together.
- Most man-made disasters have been traced to organization and management factors
o Deepwater Horizon oil spill, 2010
o Korean Air Flight 801, 1997
o Chernobyl, 1986
What does OB do?
Social science is a different kind of science
Goals of science
Description:
- How people understand and interpret their circumstances.
- Using observation, asking questions, study documents
- How can we observe learning?
Prediction:
- Precise prediction is very difficult
- The focus is often on groups
Explanation:
- How can we explain human behavior?
, - Job satisfaction → Good performance
- Good performance → Job satisfaction
Control/ Ability to change:
- Findings are often designed to encourage change
Social science is a different kind of science
Social science and practice
Evidence-based management (EBMgt)
To use the latest and best research evidence in managing people and organizations, to improve
decision-making quality
