L1 Intro 2025 Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is Organisational Behaviour?
The study of what people do in an organisation and how that behaviour affects organisational performance.
How is Organisational Behaviour formally defined?
A field of study that investigates the impact of individuals, groups and structures on organisational behaviour to improve organisational effectiveness.
What are the uses of Organisational Behaviour?
- Increase theoretical understanding of behaviour in organisations
- Assist organisations in managing people
- Improve organisational outcomes
What are the levels of analysing human behaviour in OB?
- Individual level (e.g., personality, attitudes, motivation)
- Group level (e.g., group behaviour, leadership)
- Organisational level (e.g., culture, structure, change)
What is the goal of OB research?
To systematically gather information for developing and testing theories and models to improve organisational effectiveness.
How is effectiveness defined in organisations?
An organisation’s ability to accomplish its goals, adapt to change, and acquire resources.
What are the two popular perspectives of organisational effectiveness?
- GOAL approach
- SYSTEMS approach
What does the GOAL approach focus on?
Defining and measuring effectiveness based on the achievement of specific goals.
What does the SYSTEMS approach focus on?
The extent to which an organisation adapts to its internal and external environment.
Who is regarded as the father of present-day management?
Frederick Taylor.
What did Frederick Taylor develop?
The ‘Principles of scientific management’ which standardizes jobs with incentive payments for productivity.
What is Henri Fayol known for?
Developing the first general administrative theory of management emphasizing planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling.
What did the Hawthorne studies reveal?
Efficiency and productivity are influenced by the social setting and attention given to workers (the ‘Hawthorne effect’).
What academic disciplines contribute to the study of OB?
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Social psychology
- Anthropology
- Political Science
What is the Job Characteristics Model (JCM)?
An influential approach to job design developed by Hackman & Oldham.
What are the five core job characteristics in the JCM?
- Skill variety
- Task identity
- Task significance
- Autonomy
- Feedback
What are the four management functions according to Henry Fayol?
- Planning
- Organising
- Leading
- Controlling
What percentage of a manager’s time is typically spent talking to others?
78%
What eight broad areas did the Industry Task Force report identify for manager development?
- People skills
- Leadership skills
- Strategic skills
- International orientation
- Entrepreneurship
- Broadening beyond technical specialisations
- Relationship building across organisations
- Utilisation of diverse human resources
What characteristic did 75% of respondents rank as most important for an ideal manager?
People skills.
What forces are reshaping management and organisations?
- The power of human resources
- Globalisation
- Cultural diversity
- Rapidity of change
- New worker-employer psychological contract
