is organizational behavior a hard class

A distinguishing feature of Stanford's PhD Program in organizational behavior is the broad interdisciplinary training it provides. Observations involve watching individuals in real-life settings to gather data on their behaviors, interactions, and decision-making processes. Researchers there set out to determine whether workers could be made to be more productive if their environment was upgraded with better lighting and other design improvements. An entire branch of study aims to understand the interplay of the individual and the organization when it comes to decision making and other vital skillsets. It provides good coverage of the basic concepts and some cases and activities that have been useful. Michael Boyle is an experienced financial professional with more than 10 years working with financial planning, derivatives, equities, fixed income, project management, and analytics. While some factors are more easily controlled by the organizationsuch as its structure or people hiredit still must be able to respond to external factors and changes in the economic environment. Authors avoided use of jargon without first defining it well and establishing the context. The experiential approach can be incorporated in the classroom primarily through the "OB Toolbox." Great motivation is internal, not created by barking orders or making demands. In addition, each chapter contains a sub-section The Role of Ethics and National Culture to ensure that students understand cultural relevance of OB concepts. This OER textbook book is ready to go for both the instructor and student. The idea is that by giving employees a high level of meaning at work, workers will achieve greater satisfaction and performance. Reviewed by Jim Hickel, Adjunct Instructor, American University on 3/15/21, The book covers all the relevant topics for organizational behavior. Updating may be difficult for instructors to implemenet, due to the imbedding of cases into so many areas of the text. In particular, many links do not work and the cases are somewhat out of date (which poses a particular challenge due to the major economic changes that have taken place for several companies referred to in the text and cases). With a large section devoted to multicultural diversity, I would rate this text highly for cultural relevance. Good sensitivity to multi-cultural class composition. Great examples are used throughout the text to highlight cultural diversity within the workplace. The information was presented in a straight-forward way and cited published work from a wide variety of sources. Try ZipRecruiter today by creating a free account! Social science is a group of academic disciplines that examine human behavior and includes anthropology, economics, psychology, and sociology. Since the textbook does not include a subject index or glossary of key terms, it would make it difficult for students to find definitions easily. In the PDF, there were several instances in which chapters did not start on a new page (and instead started mid-page) which was distracting. This text is consistent with other text's terminology, structure, and data to support he position offered. Organizational culture serves as the foundation for the behavior the employees exhibit, and the two are closely intertwined. It is well written, offers many opportunities for students to apply their knowledge, and also covers a diverse range of topics. This revision would be a major undertaking and a challenge for the authors. Given the comprehensive nature of the book, it could potentially be a relevant resource in a variety of classes/topics related to If your organization seems to struggle with these issues and it is reflected in the behavior of the staff, it may be time to take a look at the structures in place. Each chapter works effectively as a stand-alone discussion of the topic. The text is written in a way that will allow easy updates in the future and the content has staying power. The broader study areas include social systems, the dynamics of change, markets, relationships between organizations and their environments, how social movements influence markets, and the power of social networks. The questions at the end of each chapter for reflection could push students a bit further in engaging with the material, and I would like to see some updates to the textbook when it comes to topics that should be covered (such as mindfulness and presenteeism) as well as case studies and examples from the last 3-5 years. Terms and concepts carry the same explanation and context from one chapter to the next. It talks about current practices in today's organizations. The lower rating on this aspect of the textbook is primarily because there are so many chapters (19 total), that it might be challenging to cover all of the content in a typical term or semester. They are important because they tell us what something is as well as what it is not. The .pdf format of the text was convenient if one wants to print the pages, but navigation of the .pdf format online required scrolling through the text. No obvious grammatical or spelling errors were found in the text. The textbook provides a wonderful resource in each chapter for discussion through the case scenarios, short vignettes, questions, group activities and a wide range of exercises. This feature brings life to the concepts and allows students to not only see how the OB theories unfold, but to practice them, as well. However, organizational culture and organizational structure are near the end of the text and student might benefit from learning about those topics before being asked to understand the design of work environments and individual attitudes and behaviors. The text is consistent in the way the chapters are presented. No index or glossary, but the search function is effective for that purpose. The books is highly consistent in terms of formatting and style--as soon as Chapter 1 is complete, students should have a clear vision of what to expect for upcoming chapters. In some aspects, organizational behavior can be considered a subset of organizational theory. The concepts described in the text can survive over time, but the cases quickly date the contents. The book content are accurate and rooted in current organizational practices. The book designates a chapter to demographic diversity and cultural diversity and includes one sub-section at the end of each chapter that briefly describes cultural differences in relation to the content from that chapter. The content includes accurate, error-free, and unbiased information. The topics are presented clearly and in a logical fashion. read more. Depending on the program, one can study specific topics within organizational behavior or broader fields within it. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The principles of the study of organizational behavior are applied primarily in attempts to make businesses operate more effectively. I have used this book for a couple of years for an MBA OB class. It is also a good idea to hire for personality and values rather than pre existing skills. read more. Organizational behavior is the study of how individuals and groups interact within an organization and how these interactions affect an organizations performance toward its goal or goals. As you will see throughout this book, definitions are important. In particular they did a good job of describing relatively complex theories with simple and understandable language. Reviewed by Laura Boehme, Chief Information/Human Resources Officer; Faculty, Central Oregon Community College on 1/12/21, This book is extremely comprehensive and covers a the broad variety of organizational behavior topics. The textbook has easily divided sections to quickly navigate through the various chapters and sections of the textbook. This textbook is well-written, comprehensive, and is an excellent resource for students and faculty. I feel like the impact these issues had on the usefulness of the book was minimal, but they were noticeable. In the realm of organizational behavior, the research thus far has shown that four key elements contribute to human behavior within a workplace: Critical to understanding organizational behavior is grasping that all four of these components make up the culture of a company and the way in which the employees behave within it. I especially appreciated the attention to detail and comprehensiveness of the diversity chapter as well as the discussion of diversity topics throughout each chapter. read more. An instructor may find it useful to present a different OB model (for example, Inputs-Processes-Outputs) that to show how all the chapter topics fit together into one overall concept, so students can track where they are in the model. No grammatical errors were found throughout the text. Motivation is defined as the desire to achieve a goal or a certain performance level, leading to goal-directed behaviour. The leaders of the Hawthorne study had a couple of radical notions. The text is chunked into logical and easily readable sections. A chosen structure and its proper (or improper) management can provide workers with clarity or lead to chaos and confusion. Each chapter is comprised of concepts, strategies, questions, and practical applications, allowing the learner to gain an in-depth exposure to the organizational behavior content. The opposite may be true if the companys culture revolves around a competitive environment and employees are expected to go above and beyond to be the most successful. Many online links do not work anymore. There are additional chapter resources to enhance learning and teaching. This is an area of improvement for this text. The coverage of each topic within a chapter by the authors is consistent. Workers, they thought, were unique in terms of their psychology and potential fit within a company. However, the Hawthorne research is credited for validating organizational behavior as a legitimate field of study, and it's the foundation of thehuman resources(HR) profession as we now know it. The content flow is great, but, as previously mentioned, there are a number of links, some of which no longer lead anywhere. The PDF version did not include a table of contents, index, or glossary which would further add to the comprehensiveness of the textbook. An organization fosters increased opportunity for success with an efficient and effective team in a comfortable, safe environment. It helps you in- The main objective is to improve communication among people. In the Organizational Behavior class of the MBA program of Graduate School of Business and Advanced Technology Management, students from nine different nationalities across Asia, Europe, and Africa came together to create a culturally rich and dynamic learning environment. Its important to create a team of individuals who can work together effectively and efficiently, and who possess the values and personalities that are well-suited to the job at hand. The study of organizational behavior has its roots in the late 1920s, when the Western Electric Company launched a now-famous series of studies of the behavior of workers at its Hawthorne Works plant in Cicero, Ill. These systems often include performance metrics, feedback mechanisms, and performance appraisal processes. HellaClassy 6 yr. ago. Organizational behavior data can be quantitative or qualitative. In addition, nearly half of the links provided in the text no longer work. However, if an instructor is looking for a good OB textbook for an introductory OB course; s/he might wish to take a look at this textbook as a possible option because it is well-written and provides a comprehensive coverage of major OB topics. Moreover, I love that there are ongoing references to the importance of ethics with an activity related to an ethical dilemma. Learn the blueprints by which any organization functions, Know the options to influence or persuade, Be attentive to high context vs. low context "cultures", Use Rule Number One of improv theatre Yes, and!, Push yourself to reinvest in communication rich methods, Realize how the zealotry and enthusiasm of a non-stop talking extrovert hinders, Md. In other words, the chapter numbers don't imply sequence so there is enough consistency across chapters to allow for users to skip around the book and still have the relevant information within that chapter without having to consult other sections to understand. I was able to set up links to each chapter in the relevant sections of the learning management system (in this case, Blackboard). I liked this text. These programs can focus on topics such as communication, leadership, teamwork, and diversity and inclusion. read more. I got some good advice from your article. The clarity of some of the graphics or photos are a bit grainy, but not so much so that it is difficult to read or see. It simply emphasizes how individuals operate and work together within a business setting. The book could be improved by providing permanent links to some of the external resources. Here are reasons to explore an OB class: I'm inspired that the more of us work-a-day folks gain OB skills, the more effective our endeavors will be. Organizational behavior (OB) is defined as the systematic study and application of knowledge about how individuals and groups act within the organizations where they work. They are important because they tell us what something is as well as what it is not. The book covers all the relevant topics for organizational behavior. Organizational behavior is the "the study of human behavior in organizational settings, the interface between human behavior and the organization, and the organization itself." iEduNote "Organizational behavior is directly concerned with the understanding, prediction, and control of human behavior in organizations." Fred Luthans Goals Organizational culture refers to qualities of the workplace itself that influence its employees, whereas organizational behavior refers to the resulting behavior of the people within it. This book is accurate and provides relevant content. Chapters are divided into short subsections making it easy to assign only portions of chapter reading. The text is well organized and structured. However, organizational behavior can also focus on the ways in which organizations can better manage, change and improve behavior in order to achieve desired outcomes (i.e., productivity, employee well-being, or workplace satisfaction). In this tutorial, we will be . Id disagree heartily now that Ive taken an Organizational Behavior class. Uses relevant business cases, which will need to be updated in a few years. The most important topics that new employees (fresh graduates) would need to know are included in this book. Employee Motivation Motivation is a crucial element when we talk about employee engagement. Some topics in organizational behavior are stable while others are changing very fast. No index or glossary, but the search function is effective for that purpose. There do not appear to be any major distortions what would cause confusion. Researchers and consultants often study organizational behavior in terms of the following topics: This text is well organized. read more. Something went wrong. Poor leaders will invariably hold teams back or break them apart, and it remains critical that chosen leaders know how to and do so effectively. The book contains accurate discussion of concepts, theories, and application. How Does Economics Study Human Action and Behavior? They were assigned groups, and the XB . Economic conditions, for example, can affect the availability of resources, while changes in the law can create new challenges. For example, they use the case of Indra Nooyi as CEO of Pepsi and talk about her as though she is currently the CEO, but her tenure as CEO ended in 2018. It also improves academic learning, fosters social-emotional growth, increases students' academic engagement and lowers negative classroom behavior 4 components of classroom behavior management Understanding a candidate's personality, either through testsor through conversation, helps determine whether they are a good fit for an organization. The text was comprehensive, covering areas that are important when teaching organizational behavior. If the company culture is one that promotes customer service, then the employees are likely to display behaviors such as friendliness and helpfulness when dealing with customers. However, if they have the information for chapter and/or sub-section number and title, they would be able to sufficiently navigate the pdf to find the content needed. The Hawthorne Effectwhich describes the way test subjects' behavior may change when they know they are being observedis the best-known study of organizational behavior. Within each chapter, the author. This will shape the expectations of the employees, such as expecting them to be courteous and willing to go the extra mile to serve the customer. This is a sort of embedded workbook that assists instructors in developing activities related to the text. The major areas of OB are covered comprehensively. However, users could create their own follow-up questions that account for what has happened since the case was written. Organizational behavior can help provide a framework for understanding how people behave in certain workplace conditions, why they do so, how we can predict behavior in the future and what we can do to influence this behavior. These structural elements can dictate how effectively and comfortably employees are able to suggest changes, ask for help and escalate problems. They involve asking individuals to answer a set of questions, often using a Likert scale. In particular, I think this would be a great book to use within an introductory OB course; it is well-written and thorough in terms of the breadth and depth of topics covered. Reviewed by Atul Mitra, Professor, University of Northern Iowa on 2/15/17, This OB textbook covers all major as well as supporting topics related the OB field. Our students benefit from their interactions with scholars from many disciplines within the Graduate School of Business, as well as from Stanford University's long-standing strength in the study of psychology . However, some of the examples, particularly those within the case studies can be outdated. However, these topics are not covered prior to the coverage of motivation. I appreciate the time and effort that was put into creating this resource. Over the following years, the concept of organizational behavior widened. Overall, this textbook is solid and I would not hesitate to use it for an undergraduate class in Organizational Behavior (although I would supplement it with readings and material from other sources as I would with any other textbook). The scholarly sources are dated. Organizational behavior theories inform the real-world evaluation and management of groups of people. This includes how individuals interact with each other in addition to how individuals interact with the organization itself. The book does not require much sequential introduction of content, so users could easily find only chapters they want to teach in the order they wish to teach them and assign them in a way that differs from the numerical sequence in the book. These operational failures of supply chain systems can have a massive impact on both customer and employee satisfaction. read more. All Rights Reserved. It also provides students with several useful applied examples, though these examples are somewhat dated. The text is consistent is in terms of terminology and framework. This text is highly modular. Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. I describe more about this consistency in organization in the modularity and organization sections. The presentation of the content is free from technical jargon. This book does a good job in covering relevant topics related to organizational behavior. The key takeaways aid student understanding and ensure the main objective is understood for each section. The book reads well and provides good examples to clarify basic concepts. Organizational behavior (OB) is the study of how individuals, groups, and organizations interact and influence one another. The content is up-to-date, consists of recent research and literature. Writing is unbiased and reports materials that are accurate. Some of the pictures were not there anymore and some of the formatting was a little off. I will seriously consider using this text for my organizational behavior class. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. This text also The "OB Toolbox" sections give students many tips on getting, keeping, and succeeding their first professional job--that is great. This information is used to develop job descriptions, selection criteria, and assessment tools to help HR managers identify the best candidates for a position. Organizational behavior (OB) is defined as the systematic study and application of knowledge about how individuals and groups act within the organizations where they work. The Ph.D. program in organizational behavior is an interfaculty program offered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) at . Clear table of contents. The text is easy to read and flows in a way that is engaging. The findings of OB studies have formed many workplace principles to encourage more effective human resources (HR) and business operations. Therefore, it will be important to look to the places where there will be a need for updates. In general, no key mistakes were identified. Combined with the learning objectives outlined at the start of each section, this work provides a great deal of easy to understand content and is user friendly for both students and teachers alike. Chapters and subject matter are clearly delineated and can be appreciated as a stand alone module. Organizational behavior is used to develop performance management systems that align employee goals with organizational objectives. It is a challenge to find a text for an internship course, but this text fits the bill nicely. The text is very clear, and written to be understood at the undergraduate level. The book is clear and helps the reader to move through sections smoothly. I liked this textbook. The first chapter also includes an introduction of why this study is important, which is an interesting inclusion. I have not found any grammatical errors in my use of this book. The textbook is free of any grammatical errors. Select Accept to consent or Reject to decline non-essential cookies for this use. Have you ever been to a hospital that seems to be constantly out of essential supplies? The flow of the book makes it logical to build each chapter based on the previous one. What is Organizational Behavior? The most relatable topics are covered proportional to students' interest levels. This is a very mature-looking OER textbook. How Consumers Reacted to 2020's Flood of Corporate "Confessions" Easy to use and to move through different parts. Each topic is presented in an accurate manner, supported by current practices, and relevant examples. Corporate culture refers to the beliefs and behaviors that determine how a company's employees and management interact. Very common sense if you have had a job IMO. The content was accurate and unbiased. Organizational behavior is a critical part of human resources, though it is embedded across a company. Specialties include general financial planning, career development, lending, retirement, tax preparation, and credit. Has chapters on the major themes such as diversity, decision making, motivation, ethics, and leadership to name a few; goes over the major theories. The book overall is accurate. . The first is the individual level, which involves organizational psychology and understanding human behavior and incentives. The writing in this book is rather clear. For example, if a company has a mission statement focused on providing the highest quality of customer service, then the companys core values may be centered around customer satisfaction, communication and professionalism. Connecting professionals to data, technology, and services. The format is user friendly, along with providing discussion questions, case studies, exercises, and takeaways. The HTML version does have these references, but they are included in within the text and, thus, negatively impact the flow and readability. Most of the material could be enhanced by a terminology glossary at the beginning of each chapter. It tends to be on active learning possibilities (e.g. Organizational behavior is the academic study of how people interact within groups. This book does a nice job organizing the various topics by themes and providing appropriate sub-headings to help the reader make sense of the overarching concepts of the book. The textbook goes into an appropriate amount of depth for each of the expected topics. It is consistent for both the learner and the instructor, offering predictability and ease of planning. Navigation is very easy for students to use. Organization/structure of this textbook is clear within a chapter. This textbook may not work for those instructors that wish to use an OB textbook based on current examples or an OB textbook that cites current scholarly references. The four elements of organizational behavior are people, structure, technology, and the external environment. This text includes a good deal of discussion related to diversity, ethnicity, gender, and other issues culture in this text. For businesses, organizational behavior is used to streamline efficiency, improve productivity, and spark innovation to give firms a competitive edge. The textbook reflects the most recent information and arranged in a manner that makes necessary updates easy to implement.

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