1 Foundations of Organizational Behavior Free Online FlashCards

What is organizational behavior (OB)?

Organizational behavior is the systematic study of how people think, feel, and act in organizations, and how organizational arrangements influence them.

Why does OB avoid a one-size-fits-all management approach?

OB uses research and observation to identify patterns and choose approaches suited to the task, workforce, and environment; it does not assume one management practice works everywhere.

What two interests does OB aim to serve?

OB considers both organizational goals and employees’ need for safe, fair, and meaningful working conditions.

What does the individual level of OB examine?

The individual level examines how a person’s abilities, personality, values, perceptions, emotions, and experiences influence work behavior.

What three aspects of effort does motivation shape?

Motivation shapes the direction, intensity, and persistence of effort.

Why might a skilled project team still miss a deadline?

A team with complementary expertise can still miss a deadline if members fail to share critical information or agree on who makes decisions.

What is organizational culture?

Organizational culture consists of shared assumptions and norms that influence what is valued and how people are expected to behave.

Name two external conditions that can shape an organization.

Organizations are shaped by external conditions such as customers, labor markets, laws, and available resources.

How do the three levels of OB influence one another?

Individual behavior affects team processes, team routines can influence organizational norms, and organizational systems shape the choices available to people and teams.

Why examine workplace problems at all three OB levels?

Workplace outcomes emerge from interactions across levels; examining all three helps identify causes more accurately than blaming an individual or culture alone.

How do OB processes differ from outcomes?

Processes include communication, decision making, leadership, and conflict. Outcomes include individual performance and well-being, team effectiveness, and organizational goal achievement.

Give an example of two workplace outcomes that can conflict.

A short-term productivity increase may come at the cost of employee fatigue or reduced quality.