Introduction to Organizational Behaviour - Part 2

Summary

This lecture introduces the complexities of Organizational Behaviour (OB), focusing on its definition and importance. The lecturer explains that organizations are consciously coordinated social entities, while countries are not. OB is multidisciplinary, drawing from psychology, sociology, and management. Key topics include the influence of individual behavior, motivation, and the disparity between organizational and personal goals. The lecture highlights the importance of critical thinking, effective vs. efficient work, and role conflicts. Finally, it emphasizes human dignity and the ethical treatment of employees, encouraging students to ponder how individuals and organizations influence one another.

Takeaways

• 📚 Organizational behavior (OB) is a complex field, influenced by multiple factors and definitions, such as organization, behavior, and their interaction.
• 🤔 The complexity of defining 'organization' helps us understand how new forms of organizations are emerging and impacting people's behavior.
• 🔍 OB encourages critical thinking about the context of theories and research, as generalizing findings without context can be problematic.
• 🌍 A country is not considered an organization because it lacks consciously coordinated goals and clear job descriptions for its citizens, whereas the government is the actual organization.
• 🧠 OB is a multidisciplinary field, with major contributions from psychology, sociology, anthropology, management, and economics.
• 💡 Motivated people are believed to work effectively, but effectiveness differs from efficiency, and performance depends on various factors beyond motivation.
• 🎯 One of the challenges in managing organizations is aligning individual goals with organizational goals, as these may sometimes conflict.
• ⚖️ Organizational policies and procedures can have unpredictable impacts on different people, as individuals respond differently based on personal preferences and expectations.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Individuals in organizations play multiple roles, which can create conflicts both between different roles (inter-role) and within a single role (intra-role).
• 👥 OB operates at multiple levels, including individual, group, and organizational levels, with interactions between these levels influencing behavior and outcomes.

Q & A

What is the primary objective of discussing the complexities of defining an organization?

The objective is to help students understand that the concept of 'organization' is complex and relative, making it challenging to define systematically. This understanding encourages critical thinking and prepares students to analyze newer forms of organizations and their impact on behavior.

Why is a country not considered an organization according to the lecture?

A country is not considered an organization because it lacks clear, consciously coordinated roles and tasks for its citizens, unlike organizations where individuals have specific job descriptions and goals. The government, which coordinates and governs the country, is considered the organization.

What is meant by the term 'multidisciplinarity' in the context of Organizational Behaviour (OB)?

'Multidisciplinarity' in OB means that the field draws from multiple disciplines such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, management, and economics to understand and explain human behavior in organizations.

What are the two perspectives on employee behavior at work mentioned in the lecture?

The first perspective is that employees need to be pushed to perform because they are inherently lazy. The second perspective is that employees are naturally motivated but may not perform well if they don't find meaning or purpose in their work.

How does the lecture differentiate between effectiveness and efficiency?

Effectiveness refers to achieving goals that are worth achieving or doing things that add value to the organization. Efficiency, on the other hand, is about achieving a goal with minimal effort or optimal use of resources, even if the goal itself may not be meaningful.

Why does the lecture argue that performance alone is not a good measure of employee contribution?

Performance depends on various factors beyond motivation, such as the work environment and available resources. Motivated employees may contribute through extra-role performance, such as helping coworkers or following rules even when not required, which may not directly reflect in measurable performance metrics.

What is the importance of aligning individual and organizational goals?

Aligning individual and organizational goals is important because employees are more likely to be motivated if they see how achieving organizational goals also helps them achieve their personal goals. Misalignment can lead to a lack of motivation and disengagement.

What challenges do managers face when designing policies and procedures for individuals?

Managers face the challenge that individuals react differently to policies based on their unique preferences, expectations, and motivations. A policy that benefits most employees may not be preferred by everyone, so managers must account for these differences when designing policies.

How does the concept of 'multiple roles' impact employees in organizations?

Employees often have multiple roles within an organization, which can lead to role conflicts. These conflicts may occur between different roles (inter-role conflict) or within the same role (intra-role conflict) and can create stress or confusion about expectations.

What is the significance of human dignity in Organizational Behaviour?

Human dignity is a core principle in OB, emphasizing that employees should be treated with respect and not be manipulated or treated as mere resources. OB seeks to understand and improve workplace behavior ethically and humanely, rather than controlling or exploiting individuals.