We explain what organizational behavior is, its different approaches, objectives, importance and other characteristics.
What is organizational behavior?
With organizational behavior we refer to a discipline that studies the possible impact of individuals, groups and structures within the operation of a company or organization, in order to design strategies to improve effectiveness within the latter.
That is, it is the study and applied research, which focuses on the internal functioning of organizations, based on different levels of analysis, such as:
- The organizational structure,
- The motivation of workers,
- organizational commitment,
- communication dynamics,
- teamwork,
- The organizational culture and climate,
- Leadership and change processes.
Organizational behavior starts from the idea that human behavior is, to some extent, predictable and that the dynamics set in motion within an organization can influence it positively or negatively.
To do this, it uses tools from other nearby disciplines, such as administration, psychology, sociology, communication sciences and even anthropology.
See also: Organizational communication
Characteristics of organizational behavior
Organizational behavior is characterized by:
- Constitute a transdisciplinary method analysis of organizations, which seeks to optimize the type of response of the organization to a given stimulus.
- It is handled in a specific level of problem solving (objective, observable and quantifiable behavior), and also on an abstract level (the values, predispositions, cultural guides that guide our behavior).
- He proposes the systematic, structural study of human behavior based on a complex dynamic of stimuli and behaviors.
- It is proposed describe, understand and predict behavioral dynamics within a given organization.
Importance of organizational behavior
The predictive capacity facilitated by organizational behavior can be very useful when evaluating the performance of an organization, since contemplates a human factor that is normally difficult to measure.
In that sense, it is a different, complete and dynamic administrative study tool, which can be applied to both the business world and the political world.
Approaches to organizational behavior
Organizational behavior presents different approaches, depending on the elements to be studied within the organization:
- Human resources approach. Focused on the dynamics of recruitment, dismissal, motivation, rotation and communication of company personnel.
- Contingent approach. Focused on the possible environmental conditions (contingencies) that may arise in the organization, in order to establish, based on this, the most appropriate administrative actions for each case.
- Results-oriented approach. Focused on achieving goals, and therefore privileging projects and results over time invested, in order to redesign the dynamics necessary to streamline the organization internally.
- Systems approach. Focused on the set of structures and dynamics that make up the organization, to apply general systems theory to its optimization and early resolution of problems.
Objectives of organizational behavior
This type of analysis pursues objectives such as improvement of quality and productivity the improvement of services. You can also point to preparation of staff for decision making low level, which are obviously desirable objectives in any company, and which impact its efficiency.
At the same time, it allows you to achieve other types of goals, such as adapt the organization to the requirements of globalization and the eventual cultural and ethnic diversity of its workers.
You can also point to the resolution of ethical issues internally, or even the encouragement of innovation and change, all of which is essential in times of great business demand, such as those heralded by the 21st century.
Continue with: Organizational development
References
- “Organizational behavior” on Wikipedia.
- “Organizational behavior OC” (video) in Educatina.
- “What is organizational behavior” in Learning Administration.
- “What is the purpose of the study of organizational behavior?” in Esan Connection.
- “Organizational behavior. Definitions and variables” in Gestiopolis.
