Introduction and overview

Question 1

Research methods of OB

Answer 1

Action
- Introspection
- Questionnaire
- Observation
- Analysis of performance/result
Location
- lab (artificial - controlled environment)
- field (realistic)
Strategy
- non-systematic approach
- systematic approach
- quasi experimental approach (we use something that happens in the real world and create experiment conditions/control as much as we can)
- experimental approach (all conditions controlled)

Question 2

Organization as Open Systems

Answer 2

Taking resources from external world outputs
- Resource inputs: information, materials, equipment, facilities
- transformation process
-> organisation: resources -> work activity, consumer feedback
-> product outputs: goods & services (+ negative/ positive external effects)

Question 3

Types of managers

Answer 3

Controllers
Doers
Thinkers (analyser)
Leaders (motivator)

Manager should seek two key results:
1. Task performance (productivity)
2. Human resource maintenance (attraction and continuation of a capable workforce)

Managers challenge:
- accountable to higher level superiors for work unit results - dependent on the efforts of subordinates - satisfy workers demands.

Question 4

Four functions of management

Answer 4

Leading
- creating vision
- inspiring commitment
- directing efforts towards a common purpose
Planning
- setting objectives
- deciding how to accomplish them
Organising:
- Dividing up work
- Assigning people to jobs
- allocating resources
- coordinating results
Controlling:
- monitoring performance
- taking action to ensure desired results

Question 5

OB and the new workplace

Answer 5

Managing globalization of work
- internationalization
Managing human rights
- employee right, job security
- equal employment opportunity
- equity of earning
Managing developments in I.T.
Managing organizational transitions
- Restructuring, Mergers
- Downsizing/ Layoffs

Question 6

The Shamrock Organization

Answer 6

3 types of workforce:
Central core
- core of permanent full time, critical employees
Independent contractors
- outside contractors performing key jobs and services
Temporary hires:
- part-timers who are added/deleted as needed

Question 7

The upside down pyramid

Answer 7

customers on top of upside-down pyramid -> most important

Top managers
- establish organisations purpose and overall direction
-> support supervisors and managers
- help the operating workers do their jobs & solve problems
-> support operating workers
- do work directly affecting customers/client satisfaction
-> serve customer & clients
- ultimate beneficiaries of the organisations efforts

Question 8

Workforce diversity

Answer 8

Workers with different
- race
- ethnicity
- age
- gender
- domestic and national culture

Question 9

Psychological contract

Answer 9

expectations of individuals & organizations:
individuals give contributions (serving needs of the organization)
- effort, loyal, knowledge, skills, creativity, time
organizations give inducements (serving the needs of individual
- pay, security, benefits, status, career, praise

Question 10

Traditional work values vs. re-engineered work values

Answer 10

• boss pays salaries
• pass problems to others
• build an empire
• the future is predictable
  vs.
• customers pay salaries
• jobs depend on value we create
• accept ownership of problems
• build teams
• future is uncertain
• constant learning

Question 11

Role of managers traditional vs re-engineered

Answer 11

boss -> partner
evaluator -> facilitator
judge -> supporter
critic -> coach

New tasks: develop people and oneself

Question 12

Lifelong learning/ recurrent learning

Answer 12

occurs as a result of experience

Question 13

Experiential learning

Answer 13

require personal commitment to pursue actively all available learning opportunities and to incorporate the results into everyday thinking and behaviour:
1. Initial experience
-> reflection
-> theory building
-> experimentation