OB 354 Midterm 1 Exam
What is organizational behavior (OB)
- A branch of science
- More specifically a field of study that seeks to understand and explain the behaviors of
individuals and groups in organizations using the steps of science.
What are the four steps of science?
1. Observation
2. Explanation (theory)
3. Prediction (or association)
4. Control
Define observation in the context of OB:
- Job performance, organizational commitment, job motivation, and employee well-being
Define explanation in the context of OB:
- Employees are MORE motivated in their jobs when they are required to use a variety
of skills rather than repetitive tasks
Define prediction in the context of OB:
- We can measure job motivation based on the variety of skills required. They are
positively correlated
Define control in the context of OB:
- We can "control" job motivation across employees by increasing skill variety
What is a theory?
- A well-tested explanation for a broad set of observations
What helps us test our theories for verification?
- Correlation coefficients
What is correlation?
- The relationship between two variables (-1 < r < 1)
What would be the correlation coefficient for PERFECT positive correlation?
r=1
What would be the correlation coefficient for moderately positive correlation?
r = 0.5
, What would be the correlation coefficient for NO correlation?
r=0
What is correlation unable to prove?
- Causation/why things happen the way they do
How can we prove causation?
- Correlation
- Temporal precedence
- Elimination of alternative explanations
What is job performance?
- The value of the set of employee behaviors that contribute, either positively or
negatively, to organizational goal accomplishment
Why would it be problematic to set consequences to job performance?
- It can be inaccurate to generalize an entire organizations behavior based on the
negative behavior of a few employees
- Can result in violation of policies within the organization
- Consequences can't always be controlled
- Managers may not be able to give feedback for improvement
What are the three categories of behaviors that constitute overall job performance?
- Task performance (positive)
- Citizenship behavior (positive)
- Counterproductive behavior (negative)
What is task performance?
- The behaviors involved in transforming organizational resources into the goods and
services that an organization produces (ex. a flight attendant demonstrating safety
procedures)
What are the three aspects of task performance?
- Routine task performance (ex. how to wear a seatbelt)
- Adaptive task performance (ex. conducting emergency escape)
- Creative task performance (designing new products)
What is citizenship behavior?
- Voluntary activities that may or may not be rewarded but that contribute to the
organization by improving the quality of the setting where work occurs
What is an example of "helping" in regard to citizenship behavior?
- Assisting new coworkers with heavy workloads
What is an example of "courtesy" in regard to citizenship behavior?
- Keeping coworkers informed about matters that involve them
What is organizational behavior (OB)
- A branch of science
- More specifically a field of study that seeks to understand and explain the behaviors of
individuals and groups in organizations using the steps of science.
What are the four steps of science?
1. Observation
2. Explanation (theory)
3. Prediction (or association)
4. Control
Define observation in the context of OB:
- Job performance, organizational commitment, job motivation, and employee well-being
Define explanation in the context of OB:
- Employees are MORE motivated in their jobs when they are required to use a variety
of skills rather than repetitive tasks
Define prediction in the context of OB:
- We can measure job motivation based on the variety of skills required. They are
positively correlated
Define control in the context of OB:
- We can "control" job motivation across employees by increasing skill variety
What is a theory?
- A well-tested explanation for a broad set of observations
What helps us test our theories for verification?
- Correlation coefficients
What is correlation?
- The relationship between two variables (-1 < r < 1)
What would be the correlation coefficient for PERFECT positive correlation?
r=1
What would be the correlation coefficient for moderately positive correlation?
r = 0.5
, What would be the correlation coefficient for NO correlation?
r=0
What is correlation unable to prove?
- Causation/why things happen the way they do
How can we prove causation?
- Correlation
- Temporal precedence
- Elimination of alternative explanations
What is job performance?
- The value of the set of employee behaviors that contribute, either positively or
negatively, to organizational goal accomplishment
Why would it be problematic to set consequences to job performance?
- It can be inaccurate to generalize an entire organizations behavior based on the
negative behavior of a few employees
- Can result in violation of policies within the organization
- Consequences can't always be controlled
- Managers may not be able to give feedback for improvement
What are the three categories of behaviors that constitute overall job performance?
- Task performance (positive)
- Citizenship behavior (positive)
- Counterproductive behavior (negative)
What is task performance?
- The behaviors involved in transforming organizational resources into the goods and
services that an organization produces (ex. a flight attendant demonstrating safety
procedures)
What are the three aspects of task performance?
- Routine task performance (ex. how to wear a seatbelt)
- Adaptive task performance (ex. conducting emergency escape)
- Creative task performance (designing new products)
What is citizenship behavior?
- Voluntary activities that may or may not be rewarded but that contribute to the
organization by improving the quality of the setting where work occurs
What is an example of "helping" in regard to citizenship behavior?
- Assisting new coworkers with heavy workloads
What is an example of "courtesy" in regard to citizenship behavior?
- Keeping coworkers informed about matters that involve them
