OB AT WORK
For Review
1. Define organizational behaviour.- What is an organization? Is the family unit an organization? Explain.
- “Behaviour is generally predictable, so there is no need to formally study OB.” Do you agree or disagree with this
statement? Why? - What does it mean to say OB takes a contingency approach in its analysis of behaviour?
- What are the three levels of analysis in our OB model? Are they related? If so, how?
- What are some of the challenges and opportunities that managers face as we move into the twenty-first century?
- Why is job satisfaction an important consideration for OB?
- What are effectiveness and efficiency, and how are they related to OB?
For Critical Thinking
1. “OB is for everyone.” Build an argument to support this statement.- Why do you think the subject of OB might be criticized as being “only common sense,” when we would rarely hear
such a comment about a course in physics or statistics? Do you think this criticism of OB is fair? - On a scale of 1 to 10, measuring the sophistication of a scientific discipline in predicting phenomena, mathematical
physics would probably be a 10. Where do you think OB would fall on the scale? Why? - Can empowerment lead to greater job satisfaction?
OB for You
■ As you journey through this course in OB, bear in mind that the processes we describe are as relevant to you as an
individual as they are to organizations, managers, and employees.
■ When you work together with student teams, join a student organization, or volunteer time to a community group,
know that your ability to get along with others has an effect on your interactions with the other people in the group
and the achievement of the group’s goals.
■ If you are aware of how your perceptions and personality affect your interactions with others, you can be more careful
in forming your initial impression of others.
■ By knowing how to motivate others who are working with you, how to communicate effectively, and when to negoti-
ate and compromise, you can get along in a variety of situations that are not necessarily work-related.