The Concept of Organizational Behavior a Case Study
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of the case, students should be able to:
- Understand the definition and scope of Organizational Behavior and its relevance for managers and organizations.
- Understand the impact of organizational behavior on an organization's growth and development.
- Learn how to apply the concept of organizational behavior to any organization.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Organizational behavior is the study of how people interact and behave within organizations. It is a multidisciplinary field that draws on concepts and theories from psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, management, and other disciplines. Organizational behavior can help us understand and improve various aspects of organizational life, such as leadership, motivation, teamwork, communication, decision-making, conflict resolution, ethics, diversity, and culture.
Organizational behavior can be analyzed at three levels: the individual level, the group level, and the organizational level. At the individual level, we examine how individual characteristics, such as personality, attitudes, values, emotions, perception, and learning, influence individual behavior and performance. At the group level, we explore how groups and teams are formed and function, how they communicate and collaborate, how they deal with power and politics, and how they manage conflict and negotiation. At the organizational level, we investigate how organizational structure, design, culture, strategy, change, and innovation affect organizational behavior and outcomes.
Organizational behavior is relevant for both managers and employees. Managers can use organizational behavior concepts and tools to diagnose problems, design interventions, implement solutions, and evaluate results. Employees can use organizational behavior knowledge and skills to enhance their self-awareness, interpersonal effectiveness, career development, and well-being. Organizational behavior can also help us understand the broader social and environmental impacts of organizations and their actions.
Organizational behavior is a dynamic and evolving field that reflects the changing nature of work and organizations in the 21st century. Some current trends and challenges that organizational behavior researchers and practitioners face include globalization, diversity and inclusion, remote work, artificial intelligence, ethics and sustainability, and employee engagement and well-being. Organizational behavior can provide valuable insights and guidance for navigating these complex and uncertain issues.