WGU C715 Organizational Behavior OA
Exam NEW 2026 ( Complied FROM REAL
EXAM) 100% ACCURATE
McClelland's theory of needs
A theory that states achievement, power, and affiliation are three important needs
that help explain motivation.
McClelland's 3 needs
1. Need for achievement (nAch) 2. Need for power (nPow) 3. Need for affiliation
(nAff); explain motivation
Need for affiliation (nAff)
The desire for friendly and close interpersonal relationships.
Need for power (nPow)
The need to make others behave in a way in which they would not have behaved
otherwise.
Need for achievement (nAch)
The drive to excel, to achieve in relationship to a set of standards, and to strive to
succeed.
self-determination theory
A theory that is concerned with the motivation behind choices people make
without external influence and interference.
cognitive evaluation theory
A version of self-determination theory which holds that allocating extrinsic
rewards for behavior that had been previously intrinsically rewarding tends to
decrease the overall level of motivation if the rewards are seen as controlling.
self-concordance
,The degree to which peoples' reasons for pursuing goals are consistent with their
interests and core values.
job engagement
The investment of an employee's physical, cognitive, and emotional energies into
job performance.
goal-setting theory
A theory that says that specific and difficult goals, with feedback, lead to higher
performance.
personal power
Influence derived from an individual's characteristics.
expert power
Influence based on special skills or knowledge.
referent power
Influence based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or
personal traits.
power tactics
Ways in which individuals translate power bases into specific actions.
Nine influence tactics
1. Legitimacy 2. rational Persuasion 3. Inspirational appeals 4. Consultation 5.
Exchange 6. Personal appeals 7. Ingratiation 8. Pressure 9. Coalitions
political skill
The ability to influence others in such a way as to enhance one's objectives.
sexual harassment
Any unwanted activity of a sexual nature that affects an individual's employment
and creates a hostile work environment.
, long-term orientation
A national culture attribute that emphasizes the future, thrift, and persistence.
short-term orientation
A national culture attribute that emphasizes the past and present, respect for
tradition, and fulfillment of social obligations. people value the here and now;
they accept change more readily and don't see commitments as impediments to
change.
heredity
factors determined at conception; one's biological, physiological, and inherent
psychological makeup.
Perception
A process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions
in order to give meaning to their environment.
attribution theory
An attempt to determine whether an individual's behavior is internally or
externally caused.
fundamental attribution error
The tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate
the influence of internal factors when making judgments about the behavior of
others.
self-serving bias
The tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors
and put the blame for failures on external factors.
selective perception
The tendency to selectively interpret what one sees on the basis of one's
interests, background, experience, and attitudes.
halo effect
The tendency to draw a general impression about an individual on the basis of a
single characteristic.
Exam NEW 2026 ( Complied FROM REAL
EXAM) 100% ACCURATE
McClelland's theory of needs
A theory that states achievement, power, and affiliation are three important needs
that help explain motivation.
McClelland's 3 needs
1. Need for achievement (nAch) 2. Need for power (nPow) 3. Need for affiliation
(nAff); explain motivation
Need for affiliation (nAff)
The desire for friendly and close interpersonal relationships.
Need for power (nPow)
The need to make others behave in a way in which they would not have behaved
otherwise.
Need for achievement (nAch)
The drive to excel, to achieve in relationship to a set of standards, and to strive to
succeed.
self-determination theory
A theory that is concerned with the motivation behind choices people make
without external influence and interference.
cognitive evaluation theory
A version of self-determination theory which holds that allocating extrinsic
rewards for behavior that had been previously intrinsically rewarding tends to
decrease the overall level of motivation if the rewards are seen as controlling.
self-concordance
,The degree to which peoples' reasons for pursuing goals are consistent with their
interests and core values.
job engagement
The investment of an employee's physical, cognitive, and emotional energies into
job performance.
goal-setting theory
A theory that says that specific and difficult goals, with feedback, lead to higher
performance.
personal power
Influence derived from an individual's characteristics.
expert power
Influence based on special skills or knowledge.
referent power
Influence based on identification with a person who has desirable resources or
personal traits.
power tactics
Ways in which individuals translate power bases into specific actions.
Nine influence tactics
1. Legitimacy 2. rational Persuasion 3. Inspirational appeals 4. Consultation 5.
Exchange 6. Personal appeals 7. Ingratiation 8. Pressure 9. Coalitions
political skill
The ability to influence others in such a way as to enhance one's objectives.
sexual harassment
Any unwanted activity of a sexual nature that affects an individual's employment
and creates a hostile work environment.
, long-term orientation
A national culture attribute that emphasizes the future, thrift, and persistence.
short-term orientation
A national culture attribute that emphasizes the past and present, respect for
tradition, and fulfillment of social obligations. people value the here and now;
they accept change more readily and don't see commitments as impediments to
change.
heredity
factors determined at conception; one's biological, physiological, and inherent
psychological makeup.
Perception
A process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions
in order to give meaning to their environment.
attribution theory
An attempt to determine whether an individual's behavior is internally or
externally caused.
fundamental attribution error
The tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate
the influence of internal factors when making judgments about the behavior of
others.
self-serving bias
The tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors
and put the blame for failures on external factors.
selective perception
The tendency to selectively interpret what one sees on the basis of one's
interests, background, experience, and attitudes.
halo effect
The tendency to draw a general impression about an individual on the basis of a
single characteristic.
