introduction to ob

1. CONCEPT OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

Learning quest 1: What is an organization?

Organization in simple terms may be referred to as a systematic and scientific arrangement of resources brought together with the aim to achieve the stated goals of the institution to be achieved over a period of time.

Such resources may be broadly classified into two categories – i. human, and ii. non-human resources.

Organizational objectives or aims also may be broadly categorized into tow types – i. business for a profit, and ii. service not for profit.

Similarly, the time also can be classified into two runs – i. short-run, and ii. long-run.

April 8, 2015 1Dr Rijal on OB


Learning quest 2: What is behavior?

Simply speaking, behavior may be referred to the way one acts upon something.

In other words, behavior in human science, may be referred to as the pattern of actions of an individual over a situation or context.

Behavior is a psychological phenomenon inherent in human.

Behavior is an end-result of certain happening preceding it.



Learning quest 3: What is OB then?

The scientific study of human and institutional behavioral exchanges in an organizational setting is the sole subject matter of study in OB.

Such exchanges may be observed at least in three levels – i. individual level exchanges, ii. group level exchanges and system level exchanges.

Again, study of the sole subject matter of OB is primarily guided by three disciplines - anthropology, psychology and sociology.



Learning quest 4: Why considering OB in hospitality?

The main purpose of hospitality business is to exchange glorify the learning moments of the guests by guiding them marvelously towards the staging of the services on offer of the institution through quality human and institutional touch.


Model of OB

Needs discussion on various dependent and independent variables at individual, group and systems level and their collective outcomes.

Refer exhibit 1.8, Basic OB Model Stage II, p. 37; Robbins, Judge and Sanghi, OB 13th ed.

Let’s develop a new and widely covered model by ourselves in class itself. Are you ready for it?


Model of OB


Individual Level VariablesPersonal demography [Education, gender, religion, nationality, social class, age, etc.]Biographical characteristicsValues and normsAttitudesPersonalityPerceptionSkill competenceLearningIndividual decision-makingCommitment towards organization

Human

Inputs

Motivation

Group Level VariablesCommunicationWork groupsWork teamsInterpersonal conflictGroup decision-making

Leadership

Systems Level VariablesHR policies/practicesStructure and designChange and developmentOrganizational cultureWork stressPower and politics

StrategicThrusts

Expected OB OutcomesIncreased productivityIncreased job satisfactionDecreased turnoverDecreased absenteeism

Feedback

CorporateCitizenship

Levels of OB Analyses

Basically, the analyses of organizational behavior is performed at three levels of human input and transaction leading to organizational outcomes as the collective results of behavioral exchanges at each level of OB system in a hospitality institution.

The study of individual characteristics, interpersonal relationship, group dynamics, intergroup behavior, and institutional systems level operations’ analyses are the key levels of analyses in OB in a hospitality specialized institution.


1. Concept of Organizational Behavior

The scientific study of behavior -- facts about the people what they do, what they should do, how they do and why they should the way they are expected to do or act refers to the study of OB in a hospitality institution.

It focuses on the human and better understanding of human behavior in an organizational setting.

Organizes facts surrounding the actions of people at workplace, say in the F&B Production Department.

Also provides with depth insights on how organization’s structural system affects the pattern of responses of the people in an organization, say organizational culture affecting the shaping of people behavior in an airlines company.


To recap it…

An organization is referred to as a well coordinated set of people and other resources brought together to accomplish a specified purpose.

Human behavior refers to the way how people perceive, receive and react to each other so as to contribute collectively for personal as well as institutional betterment.

Organizational behavior (OB) is the study of how people and organizational systems behave or interact each other.

Study of OB is precisely a learning of social science.April 8, 2015 9Dr Rijal on OB

More OB identifiers…

Study of OB serves as a root for the study of –

Organizational relations

Industrial relations

Industrial psychology

Organizational psychology

Behavioral science

And so on …

It precisely specializes in the study of human behavioral dimension in an organizational setting.


Importance of OB

It attempts to explore and establish the fitness of individual in working environment – person-job-fit, person-group-fit, and person-organization-fit.

Promotes human behavior and attitude among the employees in an organization.

Attempts to rationalize human actions.

Explores the areas of development among people working together in an organizations.

Establishes relations across organizations.

Promotes the value of cross-cultural diversity.


In 4th century BC, Aristotle, the first behavioral scientist, labeled human merits in many aspects.

Comte (1830s) wrote about the discipline of sociology and core value of sociology.

Ford Foundation (1950s) performed the study of favorable attitudes towards behavioral science over short span of time.

Galileo and Merton (1963) said behavioral science comprises a new science of ancient subject.

Berelson (1963) pointed out the revolutionary change in the fields, i.e. technical and specialized.

Senn (1966) considered behavioral science in human and organizational setting, as a valid description of the work.

Emergence of OB as a Discipline


2. Contributing Disciplines to OB

In fact, OB is an integrated study of a number of social sciences rather than itself being a stand alone subject of study.

More specifically, psychology, social psychology, sociology and anthropology are the basic disciplines that contribute significantly in the field of OB.


Basic disciplines contributing to the field of OBBehavioral Contribution Unit of Analysis Output

Sciences

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Learning, motivation, personality, emotions, perception, training, leadership effectiveness, job satisfaction, individual decision-making, performance appraisal, aptitude measurement, employee selection, work design, work stress

Behavioral and attitude change, communication, group processes, group decision-making

Communication, power, conflict, intergroup behavior

Individual

Study of OB

Comparative values, attitudes and cross-cultural diversity

Organizational culture, environment, power and politics

Formal organizational theory, technology, change and culture

Group

Organizational System

Dr Rijal on OB

Disciplines contributing to the field of OB

i. Basic disciplines: Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology.

ii. Applied areas: Marketing, Management, and Economics.

iii. Newer fields: Decision Theory, Information and Communication Theory, and Cybernetics.


Anthropology and OB Anthropology focuses on human study from the

perspectives of human development, span of development across various life stages, human values, norms, caste-ethnic perspectives, language, cultural system and traditions.

These all are the key elements of individual behavioral study.

OB attempts to establish the relationship between the social norms, values and traditions and responses of people to each other bearing diverse value system in an organization.April 8, 2015 16Dr Rijal on OB

Psychology and OB Psychology is the study of human intelligence.

Assessment of the impact of one’s mental health on his/her memory power as well as set pattern of behavior is the key of the study in psychology.

OB attempts to establish linkage between one’s mental health, level of intelligence and memory power to his/her behavioral responses, adjustment, and individual productivity leading to organizational performance.


Sociology and OB Sociology is the study of human behavioral exchanges

in social setting.

Formation of social values, norms, rules and regulations as well as collective thoughts are deeply rooted with the human behavior in collective form.

The behavior of individual members significantly affects the behavior of the society at large since the individuals are the basic unit of the formation of a society.

An organization itself being a diverse society, behavioral exchanges may have even greater relevance.


Marketing and OB

Marketing specializes on influencing consumer behavior by means of effective marketing and promotional attempts on its offering.

Influencing consumer responses is precisely behavioral adjustment.

Managing market demand and supply precisely relies on consumers’ behavior and attitude towards the goods and services brought for marketing offer.


Management and OB

Getting things done from and with the people and other resources available in an organization is the act of management.

Motivated and happy workers may serve with higher degree of productivity.

Making people and system motivated is a part of behavioral adjustment.

Thus, managing partly refers to influencing human behavior.


Economics and OB

Economics specializes on public welfare through managing cost effectiveness of their utilities and other items of consumption.

It focuses on the analyses of how one unit of change in price of the product will affect its demand or how will it affect the economic welfare of the target customers and general public at large.

Similarly, it also studies how the firms respond to increasing demand of certain products or services.

Such a study is precisely a part of study of human and institutional behavior.April 8, 2015 21Dr Rijal on OB

Decision Theory and OB The focal point of study in decision theory is to establish

proper estimations of effectiveness of the decision alternatives.

It also establishes the priorities for alternative courses of action, if the selected alternatives will work, or to what extent, and what, if they do not work at all.

For example, to increase employee motivation, a manager may come up with salary raise as the first alternative. If it does not work, other alternatives will be given priority.

Such an adjustment is precisely a part of influencing human behavior at work place.


Information and Communication Theory and OB The concept of information and communication

underlies the fact that this is the age of information and communication and effective communication through right channel and right message will have greater impact on human behavior.

Effective marketing communication linkages will, of course, influence more intended customers to consume the market offerings of a company.

Similarly, effective information and communication system in an organization system will create more conducive behavioral relations among the people.


Cybernetics and OB

Today, the advent of cybernetics has brought revolution on the functional aspects of general investigation, criminology, lie test and detecting human perception and attitude towards something.

Cybernetics rests on the study of physically unseen aspects of human behavior.


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Centrality of work to human existence In the any country today, you are what you do. Your choice of a

job/occupation determines as much about what you will be, the status and prestige you will be afforded, what your children will do and who they will do it with, where they go to school, as do your choice of a spouse/partner and your own values.

Go to a mall, your favorite bar, a construction site, etc., and ask anybody who will talk to you, “What are you?” How many define themselves in terms of their job or occupation?

How does one know when one is a “success?” What is our cultural measuring-stick?

Success = moneySuccess = happyHappy = what you wantWhat you want requires $$$ or accomplishing goal. Goal usually is professional.

One of the first questions you ask someone: what’s your major? Or what do you do? Or

perhaps identify by religion or spouse, not as likely

April 8, 2015 Dr Rijal on OB

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Work is a source of…

1. Identity: last name ‘Smith’ ‘Cooper’

2. Relationships: outside the family.

3. Obligatory activity: Provides structure to our days and deadlines

4. Autonomy: Independence

1. Values: in terms of money, products, and associated dignity (women).

5. Opportunity: for developing skill competence.

6. Self-esteem: i. What would you do if you didn’t have college or a job, ii. You can afford to be lazy for a break, what about when no end in sight.


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Implicit Themes of Work

When work is discussed, people mention--

–Good Provider: Heavily influenced by social constructs of gender and gender identity.

– Independence: “Stand on one’s own two feet.”

• Being separate from your parents

– Success: “Hard work pays off.”

– Self Respect: Hard work of any type has dignity; a person’s worth is reflected in work.


OB is the study of behavioral science influencing work…

In management, behavioral science or organizational psychology is the science of study of human behavior at work.

It has dual focus-- i. efficiency/productivity of the organizations, and ii. health/well-being of the employees.

It is of dual nature – i. application of the science of psychology to the workplace, and ii. development or discovery of scientific psychological principles at workplace.


Specific Areas of Concern

Recruiting and selecting employees for jobs. Training employees. Assessing employee performance. Defining and analyzing jobs. Determining how people feel about work. Determining why people act as they do at work. Assessing the work effects on people. Assessing the effects people have on one another. Learning about how organizations are structured and

functioning. Designing work. Designing tools and equipment for assessment. Employee health, safety and security.


3. Challenges facing managerial jobs from OB perspectives

Managing with diversity

Compliance with HR policy level liberalization

Challenges created by globalization

Dealing with the environmental uncertainty

Managing with technological changes

Changing culture, human interest and habit

Responding to unionized workforce

Changing nature of work

Changing organizational design and structure

Global economic crisis


Roles of Leadership in Promoting OB

Incubating organizational system

Establishing and promoting organization’s strategic thrusts, setting priorities and working principles

Providing stewardship, role modeling and coaching

Coordinating and collaborating with individuals and work groups

Managing diversity, conflict and work stress among the individuals and work groups

Establishing and promoting organizational culture and value system


4. Emerging Trends in OB

Business process and jobs outsourcing; Example?

Transforming organizations into more open systems

Use of information and communication technologies at workplaces; Nepal Tourism Board

Redesign of traditional work systems into more ICT enabled virtual systems; Punjab National Bank.

Transforming organizations into learning organizations

Promotion of employee ownership in organizational stockholding; IBM

Emergence of spiritual leadership as a key to connect people in organizations; Karna Shakya


Questions for your preparation

1. Define OB and establish its linkage with other behavioral disciplines leading to hospitality study.

2. Discuss briefly the role of organizational leadership in promoting conducive organizational behavioral system in a hospitality institution.

3. Discuss the various challenges from OB perspectives, that the hospitality managers are likely to face today.

4. Establish a detailed model of OB with adequate labeling of different variables and expected outcomes and briefly discuss it in line with a hospitality institution.

5. What do you think are the emerging trends, other than discussed earlier in this presentation, in the field of OB in hospitality today? Discuss with examples.


Pleasure learning…
