lecture 1 intro

Question 1

what is organisational behaviour

Answer 1

field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups and structure have on behaviour within organisations.

to improve organisation effectiveness

Question 2

Studying OB helps to

Answer 2

predict human behaviour

understand orgs as complex comprising of different groups

Question 3

behaviour science - multi disciplinary approach

Answer 3

Mullins- personality system (psyc), social system (socio) and cultural system (anthropology)

Question 4

What are organisations

Answer 4

‘Organisations are social arrangements for the controlled performance of collective goals’ Buchanan & Huczynski (2013)

Question 5

General organisational effectiveness criteria- Adapted from Cameron (1996)

Answer 5

Goal accomplishment (not all for profit e.g. charity, education)

Internal processes work smoothly (e.g. health)

resource acquisition (Profitability, minimise risk of environmental impact)

Strategic constituencies satisfied (e.g. stakeholders).

Question 6

Morgans metaphors (7)

Answer 6

machine, organism, psychic prison, brain, culture, political system, instruments of domination

Question 7

Metaphor- As a machine

Answer 7

Suggests a logical, rational system with subsystems, predictability and controllability. Focuses on the goals and purpose of the organisation. No space for creativity or individual thinking.

Question 8

Disadvantages of mechanistic org

Answer 8

(a) doesnt change easily (
b) can result in mindless and automatic bureaucracy- deskill;
(c) can have dehumanizing effects upon employees etc

Question 9

Metaphor- Organism

Answer 9

Recognises that an Org. must adapt to survive, it is a living system. Organisations have a life cycle. Open systems model that transforms inputs into outputs

Question 10

Disadvantages of Organism

Answer 10

organisms operate in a state of functional interdependence where every element of the system works for all other elements.

In an organisation different parts often don’t work in harmony but this doesn’t kill the organisation as it might an organism.

neglects the influence of individuals and the organization

Question 11

Metaphor- psychic prison

Answer 11

Organisation viewed as mental construction i.e. conscious and unconscious psychological processes.

Strong control systems requiring obedience. Impact on our mental wellbeing. images of oppressed workers, call centre rows, manufacturing processes which are heavily monitored and controlled. e.g. Foxconn

Question 12

Disadvantages of psychic prison

Answer 12

restricts creativity, prohibits change, and limits its ability to progress into the future.

Question 13

Metaphor- brain

Answer 13

Organisations learn, make decisions, process information, in other words act and think like our brains do. E.g. knowledge management, learning organisations, neuro-linguistic programming.

Question 14

Metaphor- culture

Answer 14

Recognises that organisational members develop shared norms, shared values and language. Subcultures may develop, Comprised of social groups that interact, and build meaning. e.g. Disney

Question 15

Metaphor- politics

Answer 15

Org. have scare resources, Individuals and groups can have differing interests and pursue their own aims. competition, Power, conflict are recognised. Eg Banking culture

Question 16

Metaphor- instruments of domination

Answer 16

organisations as controlling and dominating to further the interests of the elites. It links to ideas of exploitation e.g of environment and people. Themes might include monopoly power, pollution, exploited labour, technological control eg call centres.

Question 17

Effective organisations of the future will be

Answer 17

Flexible structures and processes, change orientated cultures, populated by knowledge workers and Innovative & ethical.

Question 18

What are knowledge workers

Answer 18

“Non-routine” problem solving that requires a combination of convergent, divergent, and creative thinking.