Organizational Behavior - Answers Individuals, groups and structures
Summary definition - Answers OB is the study of what people do in an organization and how
their behavior affects the organization's performance.
Systematic approach - Answers Behavior is not random
Psychology - Answers seeks to measure, explain, and sometimes change the behavior of
humans and other animals.
Social psychology - Answers Blends concepts from both psychology and sociology to focus on
people's influence on one another
Sociology - Answers Where as psychology focuses on the individual, sociology studies people in
relation to their social environment or culture.
Contingency Variables - Answers We can say x leads to y, but only under conditions speci-fied in
z
Important - Answers Responding to Economic pressures
Responding to globalization
Increased foreign assignments
Working with people from different cultures
Workforce diversity - Answers Acknowledges a workforce of women and men; many ra-cial and
ethnic groups; individuals with a variety of physical or psychological abilities; and people who
differ in age and sexual orientation.
ethical dilemmas and ethical choices - Answers cutbacks, expectations of increasing produc-
tivity, and tough competition
What is organizational behavior and why should people study it? - Answers Organizational
Behavior studies the influence that individuals, groups and structure have on behavior within
organizations.
Its chief goal is to apply that knowledge toward improving an organization's effectiveness.
Rely on Systematic study/inquiry and Evidence-based management
,What are the three levels at which OB is studied? - Answers Individuals, Groups and Structure
What are three liberal arts disciplines that contribute to each? - Answers Behavior, Thinking and
Feeling, Being an Becoming
What are the opportunities for Christians to have a positive influence in the workplace? -
Answers Work:
Doing and being the best in their work no matter what the job is. (1 Cor. 10:31)
Relationships
What does your boss need from you? - Answers - Clear communication and direction
- Hard work and motivation
- Ask for communication if you don't have it/a communication of what good work looks like
- Boss needs to understand the way one works as an individual
What are the different types of bosses, and how can you tell which is which? - Answers Hands
on: like to be involved
Hands off: take backseat role
Reader: Don't like to deal with situation right in the moment - like to brainstorm
Listener: Deal with it face to face right away
How should you manage each type of boss? - Answers - Don't assume you boss knows
something/what he can do
- Knowing what strengths and weaknesses your boss has
- Adapting to your bosses personality style
- Give specific help
- Give reading materials
(Hands-on/hands-off : Reader/Listener)
, Appreciate goals/priorities (goals are motivating)
Appreciate boss's personal life
Appreciate boss's strengths and weaknesses
Appreciate boss's context
Important point from managing boss - Answers TRUST
1. We are trusting people: Vulnerability
2. Trustworthy: Being reliable/doing what you say/predictable
Why is it important to have concise business writing? - Answers Because the reader is busy and
businesses need specificity
What is the difference between premise and ground? - Answers Premise: Assumption -
information that's valuable
Ground: Evidence -factual
Both help us understand case
Why is it important to support your conclusion with grounds? - Answers Conclusion: Root cause
of the problem
- The reason for this problem is _________________
- The conclusion is stronger if you have evidence from the case (grounds)
Key points to remember when writing business memo - Answers Take notes on relevant
grounds/premises
Cluster notes based on affinity
What are unstated premises?
Premises + Grounds = Conclusion
Each paragraph has only ONE point
First sentence of paragraph is the conclusion
- Tells reader the point of the paragraph