Organizational Behavior:

Learning and Behavior Modification

Definition of Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior (or behavior tendency) that occurs as a result of a person’s interaction with the environment.

Theories of Learning• Classical Conditioning.

• Operant Conditioning.

- Law of effect.

• Social Learning ( Attention, Retention, Reproduction, Reinforcement).

- Cognition, Insight

ConsequencesConsequences

What happensWhat happensAfter behaviorAfter behavior

EmployeeEmployeereceivesreceives

attendanceattendancebonusbonus

ExampleExample

A-B-Cs of Behavior Modification

BehaviorBehavior

What personWhat personsays or doessays or does

EmployeeEmployeeattendsattends

scheduledscheduledworkwork

AntecedentsAntecedents

What happensWhat happensbefore behaviorbefore behavior

AttendanceAttendancebonus systembonus systemis announcedis announced

Shaping Behavior: A Managerial Tool

• Positive Reinforcement.

• Negative Reinforcement.

• Punishment.

• Extinction.

Schedules of Reinforcement Behaviors

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Continuous

Fixed ratio

Variable ratio

Fixed interval

Time (Days)1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Variable interval

Job Behavior Modification

• Step 1: Identify Target behavior

• Step 2: Functionally Analyze the Situation

• Step 3: Arrange Antecedents and Provide Consequences

• Step 4: Evaluate Results

Learning through Feedback

• Any information about consequences of our behavior

• Clarifies role perceptions

• Corrective feedback improves ability

• Positive feedback motivates future behavior

EvaluatedEmployee

Co-workerCo-worker

CustomerCustomer

SubordinateSubordinate

ProjectProjectleaderleader

SupervisorSupervisor

Co-workerCo-worker

SubordinateSubordinateSubordinateSubordinate

Multi-Source (360 Degree) Feedback

EffectiveEffectiveFeedbackFeedback

SpecificSpecific

FrequentFrequent

TimelyTimely

RelevantRelevant

CredibleCredible

Giving Feedback Effectively

Other Key Terms• Self-Management

• Learning Through Experience

• Action Learning