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- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
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STUDY TASK 1:CHAPTER 1 AND
CHAPTER 2
Chapter 1: The field of organisational behaviour
1. Define the concepts of organization and organizational behavior.
An organization is a structured social system consisting of groups and individuals working
together to meet some agreed-upon objectives. Organizational behavior is the field that
seeks knowledge of behavior in organizational settings by systematically studying
individ ual, group, and organizational processes.
2. Describe the field of organizational behavior’s commitment to the scientific
method and the three levels of analysis it uses.
The field of OB seeks to develop a base of knowledge about behavior in organizations by
using an empirical, research-based approach. As such, it is based on systematic observation
and measurement of the behavior or phenomenon of interest. The field of OB uses three
levels of analysis—individuals, work groups, and entire organizations—all relying on the
scientific method.
3. Trace the historical developments and schools of thought leading up to the field of
organizational behavior today.
✓ The earliest approaches to organizational behavior relied on scientific management,
an approach that essentially treated people like machines, emphasizing what it took
to get the most out of them.
✓ For example, this approach relied on time-and-motion study, a type of applied
research designed to find the most efficient way for people to perform their jobs. As
this approach grew unpopular, it was supplanted by the human relations movement,
which emphasized the importance of noneconomic, social forces in the workplace—
an approach that remains popular to this day.
✓ Such factors were demonstrated in the Hawthorne studies, the first large-scale
research project conducted in a work organization that demonstrated the importance
of social forces in determining productivity. In contrast with scientific management’s
orientation toward organizing the work of individuals, proponents of classical
organizational theory developed ways of efficiently structuring the way work is done.
Weber’s concept of bureaucracy is a prime example of this approach.
, ✓ Contemporary OB is characterized not by one best approach to management, but by
systematic scientific research inspired from several social science disciplines. It takes
a contingency approach to OB, recognizing that behavior may be influenced by a
variety of different forces at once, thereby rejecting the idea that there is any single
most effective approach to managing behavior in organizations.
4. Identify the fundamental assumptions of the field of organizational behavior.
The field of OB assumes:
I. That organizations can be made more productive while also improving the quality of
people’s work life
II. That there is no one best approach to studying behavior in organizations
III. That organizations are dynamic and ever-changing.
5. Describe how the field of organizational behavior today is being shaped by the
global economy, increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the workforce, and advances
in technology.
✓ The world’s economy is becoming increasingly global, a trend that is affecting the
field of OB in several distinct ways. For example, organizations are expanding
overseas, requiring people to live and work in different countries, requiring
considerable adjustment.
✓ As this occurs, much of what we thought we knew about managing people is proven
to be limited by the culture in which that knowledge was developed (U.S. culture, in
most cases). Racial and ethnic diversity in the workplace is in large part the result of
shifting patterns of immigration that have brought more foreign nationals into the
workforce.
✓ It also is the result of changes in social values and the economy that have made the
presence of women common in today’s workplace. Also, thanks to modern medicine,
people are living longer, hence retiring from work later than ever before. Because
technology has made it possible for fewer people to do more work, many
organizations
Chapter 2: Organizational Justice, Ethics, and Corporate Social Responsibility
1. Identify four different forms of organizational justice and the organizational impact
of each.
, Organizational justice, people’s perceptions of fairness in organizations, takes four distinct
forms. Distributive justice refers to the perceived fairness of rewards (e.g., pay) received.
People who feel they have received fair amounts of reward feel satisfied with their jobs.
Procedural justice refers to people’s perceptions of the fairness of the procedures used to
determine the outcomes they receive. When high levels of procedural justice are perceived,
people are inclined to follow organizational rules and policies. Interpersonal justice refers to
the fairness of interpersonal treatment by others. High levels of interpersonal justice are
related to high levels of satisfaction with one’s supervisor. Finally, informational justice refers
to people’s perceptions of the fairness of the information used as the basis for making a
decision. People tend to be highly valued by organizations in which they perceive high levels
of informational justice.
2. Describe strategies that can be used to promote organizational justice.
Promoting organizational justice can be done in several ways. First, it is important to pay
workers what they deserve—the “going rate” for the work done wherever they work.
Underpaying workers promotes dissatisfaction, leading to turnover. Second, workers should
be given a voice—that is, some input into decisions. This may involve such strategies as
holding regular meetings, conducting employee surveys, keeping an “open door policy,” and
using suggestion systems. Third, follow openly fair procedures. Specifically, promote
procedural fairness, such as by using unbiased, accurate information and applying decision
rules consistently. Managers also should openly describe the fair procedures they are using.
Fourth, managers should explain decisions thoroughly in a manner demonstrating dignity
and respect. Fifth, workers should be trained to be fair, such as by adhering to the principles
described in this chapter.
3. Explain what is meant by ethical behavior and describe its relation to the law.
Whereas moral values are people’s fundamental beliefs regarding what is right and wrong,
ethics refers to standards of conduct that guide people’s decisions and behavior.
Organizations are concerned about promoting ethical behavior in organizations. Behaving
ethically is highly desirable for two important reasons. First, good ethics is good business. In
various ways, organizations in which ethical behavior prevails tend to be more successful
than those marked by low levels of ethics. Second, behaving ethically is consistent with
many legal requirements—most notably, the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for
Organizations and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
4. Describe the individual and situational factors responsible for unethical behavior
in organizations and methods for minimizing such behavior.
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