Organizational Behavior (Stephen Robbins)

perception.” He claims that as chair of Metropolitan Toronto for 11 years, he had little

real power, but people believed he could get things done, and so he did.^3

FACTORSINFLUENCINGPERCEPTION

Comments by employees and managers illustrate different perceptions of the environment at

the Canadian Human Rights Commission. For example, one unnamed employee said that Chief

Commissioner Michelle Falardeau-Ramsay was an absentee manager who lacked important job

skills. “When she does conduct a meeting she will occupy the time describing entertainment

details of the latest trip she has taken at taxpayers’ expense. She’s out of touch.”^4

Meanwhile, in responding to negative employee comments, Falardeau-Ramsay told reporters

she felt complaints were directed against other senior managers, not her. “I was so over-

whelmed, [the report] was so surprising that I didn’t even think in those terms,” she said.^5

Falardeau-Ramsay and her employees clearly had different perceptions of the same situation.

What factors might have influenced these different perceptions?

How do we explain that individuals may look at the same thing, yet perceive it differently,

and both be right? A number of factors affect perception. These factors can be found in

the perceiver,in the object or targetbeing perceived, or in the context of the situationin

which the perception is made. Exhibit 2-1 summarizes the factors influencing percep-

tion. This chapter’s Working With Others Exerciseon page 67 will help you understand how

your perceptions affect your evaluation of others.

The Perceiver

When an individual (“the perceiver”) looks at something (“the target”) and tries to

interpret what he or she sees, that interpretation is heavily influenced by the perceiver’s

personal characteristics. Have you ever bought a new car and then suddenly noticed a

large number of cars like yours on the road? It’s unlikely that everyone else has sud-

denly bought the same model. Rather, your own purchase has influenced your percep-

tion so that you are now more likely to notice the other cars. This is an example of how

factors related to the perceiver influence what he or she perceives.

32 Part 1 Understanding the Workplace

Perception

The Target

• Novelty


• Motion


• Sounds


• Size


• Background


• Proximity

The Perceiver

• Attitudes


• Motives


• Interests


• Experience


• Expectations

The Situation

• Time


• Work setting


• Social setting

EXHIBIT 2-1 Factors That Influence Perception

2 What causes people

to have different

perceptions of the

same situation?