Introduction to OB

Question 1

Organizations as social inventions

Answer 1

Organizations are social inventions, meaning they are the presence of people and not things, organizations have goals, and OB is concerned with how to use teamwork to maximize achievement of organizational goals. Goals are essential for organizational survival, adaptation, and teamwork

Question 2

Macro and micro OB

Answer 2

Micro OB is concerned with conflict and decision making. Macro OB is on a higher scale and is concerned with the behaviors in the whole organization

Question 3

Performing vs thriving management theories

Answer 3

Performing management theories is managing people so they can overcome obstacles and reach a goal, thriving is a perspective that focuses on creating work that is meaningful and fulfilling to bring out the potential in others

Question 4

Early Management theories

Answer 4

Were concerned with efficiency, the two basic views were the classical view and bureaucracy. Taylorism is scientific management which is driven by efficiency, there were highly specialized tasks (assembly lines) and central decision making where very few people had power. Some companies like Amazon still use Taylorism today. Pros: increases efficiency and production, low cost of production. Cons: dull, closely monitored, asocial, and no creativity.

Question 5

Human Relations movement

Answer 5

A people-oriented and participative style of management. Calls for open communication, more interesting job design, and less rigid, more decentralized forms of control. Came from Hawthorne studies which studied how lighting increased productivity, found productivity increased regardless because as soon as the workers were being monitored, they felt like their work mattered and productivity increased

Question 6

Contingency approach

Answer 6

This is the modern approach that applies both human relations and Taylorism, needs to be adjusted to fit each unique situation.