1

OS (PY) 386Organizational Behavior

August 27, 2002

Fisher

2

Agenda

• Introductions– Me– You

• Review the syllabus and schedule

• Introduction to OB

3

Introductions

• Me

• You (name, where you are from)

• Send me an email….– Major– Interesting, unique, or otherwise notable work

experience– Anything else I should know

4

Syllabus

• Why OB?

• Participative learning

• Performance evaluation

5

Course Schedule

• Available on the web

• PowerPoint slides posted before each class

• Links to readings and activities

6

What is Organizational Behavior?

• “the study of what people think, feel, and do in and around organizations.” McShane & VonGlinow (2003)

• “the systematic study of actions and attitudes that people exhibit within organizations” Robbins (2000)

• “the study of individuals and groups in organizations” Schermerhorn, Hunt & Osborn (2003)

7

The Field of Organizational Behavior is:

• Multidisciplinary

• Built on systematic research

• Full of contingencies – “it depends”

• Concerned with multiple levels of analysis– Individual, group, organization

• Dealing with open systems

8

Emerging Trends

• Globalization

• Changing Workforce

• Emerging Employment Relationships

• Information Technology

• Workplace Values and Ethics

9

For next class:

• Read Appendix A in book

• Not learning how to conduct research, but how to be good consumers of research

• Will review article summaries in class