1. ORGANIZATIONAL
BEHAVIOR
Lecture #01

2. WHAT IS ORGANIZATIONAL
BEHAVIOR?
Organizational Behavior is a field of study that investigates the
impact that individuals, groups and structure have on behavior
within organizations, for the purpose of applying such
knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness.

3. WHY DO WE STUDY OB?
Following are the reasons to study organizational behavior:
 To learn about yourself and how to deal with others
 You are part of an organization now, and will continue to be a part of
various organizations
 Organizations are increasingly expecting individuals to be able to work in
teams, at least some of the time
 Some of you may want to be managers or entrepreneurs

4. THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR (OB)
OB applies the knowledge gained about individuals, groups, and the effect of
structure on behavior in order to make organizations work more effectively.
It is concerned with the study of what people do in an organization and how
that behavior affects the performance of the organization. There is
increasing agreement as to the components of OB, but there is still
considerable debate as to the relative importance of each: motivation, leader
behavior and power, interpersonal communication, group structure and
processes, learning, attitude development and perception, change
processes, conflict, work design, and work stress. It is also important
because it focus on the following areas.
 OB is a way of thinking.
 OB is multidisciplinary.
 There is a distinctly humanistic orientation with OB.
 The field of OB is performance oriented.
 The external environment is seen as having significant impact on OB.

5. CONTRIBUTING DISCIPLINES TO
THE OB FIELD
Organizational behavior is an applied behavioral science that is built
upon contributions from a number of behavioral disciplines. The
predominant areas are psychology, sociology, social psychology,
anthropology, and political science.

6. PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is the science that seeks to measure, explain, and
sometimes change the behavior of humans and other animals.

7. SOCIOLOGY
Sociologists study the social system in which individuals fill
their roles; that is, sociology studies people in relation to their
fellow human beings.

8. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
An area within psychology that blends concepts from
psychology and sociology and that focuses on the influence of
people on one another.

9. ANTHROPOLOGY
The study of societies to learn about human beings and their
activities.

10. POLITICAL SCIENCE
The study of the behavior of individuals and groups within a
political environment.

11. ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOR