1.1 - 1.3, 2.1-2.3 3.1 - 3.4 4.1- 4.5 5.1-5.2, 6.1- 8.1-8.4 9.1 -9.7
1.10 5.4-5.6, 6.3
5.12-5.13
1.1 introduction
Organizational behaviour
- interdisciplinary science that is concerned with the study of the behavior of organisations
as well as the factors that determine this behavior, and the manner in which organizations
can be directed
-Obtaining overall picture of organisation, problem or project
- Gaining overview must become priority
- Smaller details are secondary importance
This ^ definition encompasses 2 aspects
1 A descriptive aspect: description of the behaviour of organisations
- Including motives + consequences
2 A prescriptive aspect: Advice about organisational design + best course of action to follow
Two-sided character can be seen in other practical sciences: Medicine, psychology, education
- Field of organisational behaviour is more oriented to practical application + More pragmatic
- Methodology and theoretical basis is considered less significant than the identification
of practical ramifications
Interdisciplinary vs multidisciplinary
- Interd> Term is often misused linked to organisational behaviour
- Organisational behaviour contains elements + disciplines from other sciences
- bringing together all the contributions from these fields = multidisciplinary
approach is required rather than interdisciplinary
- Interd> evaluates contributions individually to develop new insight that views the subject in its
entirety
- Old disciplines are not recognisable anymore in their old format
- Ideal situation that is rarely reached
- Multid> Disciplines remain the same and recognisable
2 aspects of the definition of organisational behaviour:
1 Direction: targeted persuasion.
- Guiding activity - giving directions on a moment to moment basis when challenges take
place / decisions are needed within an organisation.
- Directions should align with target that has been determined in advance
- Process is structured. Development of / adaptation to resulting structure forms
important area for management to focus on
2 Effectiveness: Extent to which ^ activities have succeeded
- Leave aside the matter of who should carry out the tasks
, 1.3 The development of trading and the emergence of multinational enterprises
Trading between tribes in cross-border geographical regions has been consistent element
throughout the growth of international enterprise
- Earliest examples: found in time of “trade routes” like the silk road
- set up in 1st century BC
- Connected EU, Middle East and Asia
- Silk, fur, pottery, iron, bronze, etc from Asia transported to the west for gold, ivory,
wool, precious metals, etc
- Traded by commission agents: middlemen who traveled part of route in caravans
- +/- 1400 AD: Road went into decline
Other important trading routes:
- Roman trade routes: 50 BC - 500 AD
- African trade routes: 1000 AD - 1500 AD
- Indian Maritime routes: From 800 AD
- Spanish trade routes:15th - 16th Century
- Portuguese trade routes: 16th Century
First international trading companies (multinationals)
were established with the support + financial backing of national governments who wished to support
their commercial policies
- 1600: English East India trading company
- Prime aim: trading in east and south-east Asia + India
-1602: Dutch east india company (VOC)
- Government granted VOC exclusive charter providing a complete monopoly on trade
between the republic of the 7 united Netherlands and India = All countries east of the cape of
good hope
- during 200 years of existence: Developed into largest company of its time
- traded spices, silk, tea, porcelain etc
- went in decline in 2nd half of 18th century: Competition from UK and FR
Other important international trading companies:
- Danish West East India Company - 1614
- Dutch West India Company - 1621
- French West India Company - 1664
- Royal African Company - 1663
- Hudson’s Bay Company - 1670
Between establishment of the 1st international trading company and the beginning of the 20th
century: Number + size of multinationals hardly increased.From then on a dramatic increase
- Beginning of 1900: 3000 multinationals
- 2014: 89,456 Multinationals
Factors that explain growth pattern:
- 17th century: Governments exerted main influence on trade - was no longer the case 300 years later
- Technological developments:
-Shortened transport distance
-Improving communication
- More + braoder knowledge of different markets/ consumer groups
-Enterprises can rapidly anticipate + react to global developments by:
- Making finacial resources available for investment
- Opening offices / factories in various countries