OB summary & Quizlet.docx Flashcards
(130 cards)
1
Q
What is organizational behavior?
A
The study of the structure and management of organizations, their environments, and the actions and interactions of their individual members and groups.
2
Q
What are the reasons why a managerial perspective can be unhelpful in studying organizational behavior?
A
- Power inequalities
- The agenda
- Multiple stakeholders
- Fashion victims
3
Q
Define organization.
A
A social arrangement for achieving controlled performance in pursuit of collective goals.
4
Q
What is controlled performance?
A
Setting standards, measuring performance, comparing actual with standard, and taking corrective action if necessary.
5
Q
What is an organizational dilemma?
A
How to reconcile inconsistency between individual needs and aspirations and the collective purpose of the organization.
6
Q
What is the fundamental attribution error?
A
The tendency to explain the behavior of others based on their personality or disposition, and to overlook the influence of wider contextual influences.
7
Q
List the context factors that affect behavior.
A
- Economic factors
- Social issues
8
Q
What is organizational effectiveness?
A
A multidimensional concept that can be defined differently by different stakeholders.
9
Q
What is the balanced scorecard?
A
An approach to defining organizational effectiveness using a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures.
10
Q
Define quality of working life.
A
An individual’s overall satisfaction with their job, working conditions, pay, colleagues, management style, organization culture, work-life balance, and training, development and career opportunities.
11
Q
What are the goals of social science?
A
- Description
- Explanation
- Prediction
- Control
12
Q
What is positivism?
A
A perspective which assumes that the world can be understood in terms of causal relationships between observable and measurable variables.
13
Q
What is an operational definition?
A
The method used to measure the incidence of a variable in practice.
14
Q
Define variance theory.
A
An approach to explaining organizational behavior based on universal relationships between independent and dependent variables which can be defined and measured precisely.
15
Q
What does constructivism argue?
A
Our social and organizational worlds have no ultimate objective truth or reality, but are instead determined by our shared experiences, meaning and interpretations.
16
Q
What is process theory?
A
An approach to explaining organizational behavior based on narratives which show how several factors, combining and interacting over time in a particular context, are likely to produce the outcomes of interest.
17
Q
What is evidence-based management?
A
Systematically using the best available research evidence to inform decisions about how to manage people and organizations.
18
Q
Define human resource management.
A
The function responsible for establishing integrated personnel policies to support organization strategy.
19
Q
What is the employment cycle?
A
The sequence of stages through which all employees pass in each working position they hold, from recruitment and selection to termination.
20
Q
What is discretionary behavior?
A
Freedom to decide how work is going to be performed; can be positive or negative.
21
Q
Define big data.
A
Information collected, often real-time, from sources such as internet clicks, mobile transactions, user-generated content, social media, sensor networks, sales queries, purchases.
22
Q
What is data analytics?
A
The use of powerful computational methods to reveal and visualize patterns and trends in very large sets of data.
23
Q
Define human capital analytics.
A
An HR practice that uses descriptive, visual and statistical analyses of data related to HR processes to establish business impact.
24
Q
What is personality in the context of organizational behavior?
A
The psychological qualities that influence an individual’s characteristic behavior patterns, in a stable and distinctive manner.
25
Define psychometrics.
The systematic testing, measurement and assessment of intelligence, aptitudes and personality.
26
What is the difference between nomothetic and idiographic methods?
* Nomothetic: Emphasizes identification of traits and systematic relationships between aspects of personality.
* Idiographic: Emphasizes uniqueness of the individual and uses open-ended approaches.
27
What is a chronotype?
A cluster of personality traits that can affect whether someone is more active and performs better in the morning or in the evening.
28
Define Type A personality.
A combination of emotions and behaviors characterized by ambition, hostility, impatience and a sense of constant time-pressure.
29
Define Type B personality.
A combination of emotions and behaviors characterized by relaxation, low focus on achievement, and an ability to take time to enjoy leisure.
30
What are the three factors moderating the impact of stressors?
* Condition
* Cognitive appraisal
* Hardiness
31
List two strategies to reduce stress.
* Individual emotion-focused strategies
* Organizational problem-focused strategies
32
What are the Big Five dimensions of personality?
* Openness
* Conscientiousness
* Extraversion
* Agreeableness
* Neuroticism
33
What is the HEXACO model?
A model of personality based on six trait clusters: honesty-humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience.
34
Define self-concept.
The set of perceptions that we have about ourselves.
35
What is unconditional positive regard?
Unqualified, non-judgemental approval and respect for the traits and behaviors of the other person.
36
What is the thematic apperception test?
An assessment in which the individual is shown ambiguous pictures and is asked to create stories of what may be happening in them.
37
Define the need for achievement.
A concern with meeting standards of excellence, the desire to be successful in competition, the motivation to excel.
38
What is predictive validity?
The extent to which assessment scores accurately predict behaviors such as job performance.
39
What are some main weaknesses of interviews?
* Self-fulfilling prophecy effect
* Stereotyping effect
* Halo and horns effect
* Contrast effect
* Similar to me effect
* Personal liking effect
40
What is cybervetting?
Covertly gathering information from informal, non-institutional, online sources to help decide whom to recruit, hire, promote, or fire.
41
Define organizational culture.
The shared values, beliefs and norms which influence the way employees think, feel and act towards others inside and outside the organization.
42
What are the four key attributes of organizational culture?
* Shared
* Pervasive
* Enduring
* Implicit
43
What is the surface manifestation of organizational culture?
Culture’s most accessible forms which are visible and audible behavior patterns and objects.
44
List elements of surface manifestation of organizational culture.
* Artifacts
* Ceremonials
* Courses
* Heroes
* Jokes
* Language
* Legends
* Mottoes
* Norms
* Physical layout
* Rites
* Sagas
* Slogans
* Stories
45
What are elaborate, dramatic sets of activities that consolidate various forms of cultural expression into one event called?
Cultural events
## Footnote
Examples include annual staff performance reviews
46
What are historical narratives describing the unique accomplishments of a group and their leaders?
Sagas
47
What are short, catchy phrases used for customer advertising and to motivate employees?
Slogans
48
What term describes narratives about individual actions and decisions that impacted a company's future?
Stories
49
What are acts, events, objects, qualities, or relationships that convey meaning called?
Symbols
50
What do organizational values represent in Schein’s second level of organizational culture?
Accumulated beliefs about how work should be done and situations dealt with
51
What influences employees’ choices regarding actions in an organization?
Organizational values
52
What are the invisible, preconscious understandings held by individuals within an organization?
Basic assumptions
53
List some topics basic assumptions relate to.
* Quality
* Stability
* Morality
* Economy
* Excellence
* Profitability
* Predictability
* Responsibility
* Innovativeness
54
What is the process through which an employee's behavior patterns and values are influenced to conform to those of the organization?
Organizational socialization
55
What are the seven key steps in the process of organizational socialization?
* Select
* Humiliate
* Train
* Evaluate
* Adherence
* Reinforce
* Role model
56
What is the anticipatory stage of socialization?
Expectations that a newcomer has about the job or organization before starting work
57
What is the accommodation stage of socialization?
Period during which newcomers learn about company norms, values, and adjust to them
58
What is the role management stage of socialization also known as?
Metamorphosis stage
59
What does role modeling in socialization involve?
Learning by example, copying the behavior of established organizational members
60
True or False: The integration perspective on culture sees organizations as consisting of subcultures.
False
61
What does a strong culture in an organization entail?
Core values and norms widely shared among employees
62
What does a weak culture in an organization signify?
Little agreement among employees about values and norms
63
What is internal integration in an organization?
The process through which employees adjust to each other and perceive themselves as a collective entity
64
What is external adaptation in an organization?
The process through which employees adjust to changing environmental circumstances
65
What are the five solutions to avoid cultural disintegration when expanding a company internationally?
* Train everyone in key norms
* Give everyone a voice
* Identify dimensions of difference
* Be heterogeneous everywhere
* Protect creative units
66
What does social orientation refer to?
The relative importance of individual interests versus group interests
67
What is behaviorism in psychology?
A perspective arguing that learning consists of observable muscle movements
68
What is cognitive psychology?
A perspective that considers mental processes as valid issues for study
69
What is a growth mindset?
The belief that capabilities can be developed through hard work and good methods
70
What are the components of behavior modification?
* Identify observable behaviors
* Measure current frequency
* Establish triggers and consequences
* Develop strategies for reinforcement
* Evaluate effectiveness
71
What is the cybernetic analogy in learning?
An explanation of the learning process based on feedback control systems
72
What does neuroplasticity refer to?
The brain's ability to keep learning and changing throughout an individual's life
73
What is the significance of feedback in the communication process?
It allows the transmitter to detect whether and how a message has been received
74
What are perceptual filters?
Individual characteristics that interfere with effective communication
75
What are some barriers to effective organizational communication?
* Power differences
* Gender differences
* Physical surroundings
* Language
* Cultural diversity
76
What is nonverbal behavior?
The process of coding meaning through behaviors such as facial expressions and body posture
77
What are the five functions of nonverbal behavior according to Bonaccio?
* Reveal personal attributes
* Exercise social control
* Promote social functioning
* Develop good relationships
* Emotional displays
78
What is the importance of social intelligence in communication?
It helps understand the thoughts and feelings of others and manage relationships
79
What are the five functions of nonverbal behavior according to Bonaccio?
* To reveal personal attributes
* To exercise social control and establish hierarchy
* To promote social functioning
* To develop good relationships
* For emotional displays
## Footnote
These functions highlight the importance of nonverbal cues in communication and social interactions.
80
Define proxemics in the context of nonverbal communication.
Proxemics refers to the different cultural norms concerning personal space.
81
What are power tells in nonverbal communication?
Nonverbal signals that indicate how important and dominant someone is or how powerful they would like others to think they are.
82
True or False: High context cultures rely heavily on verbal communication.
False
83
Fill in the blank: In low context cultures, members focus on ______ when communicating with others.
[the written and spoken word]
84
What are the four rules to reduce misunderstanding about communication issues within cultures?
* Assume that others are different
* Use deception and avoid evaluation
* Practice empathy
* Treat inspirations as working hypotheses
## Footnote
These rules are designed to enhance cross-cultural communication.
85
What is impression management?
The processes through which we control the image or impression that others have of us.
86
According to Boline, what are the three pieces of advice for managing impressions?
* Emphasize your genuine quality
* Use impression management tactics in appropriate situations
* Develop awareness of when and how often to manage your impressions
87
Define emotional intelligence.
The ability to identify, integrate, understand and reflectively manage one’s own and other people’s feelings.
88
What are the five dimensions of emotional intelligence?
* Self-awareness
* Regulating feelings
* Motivation
* Empathy
* Social skills
89
What is presenteeism?
Working for more hours than required, even when unwell, motivated by a sense of job insecurity and the desire to appear enthusiastic.
90
What are some organizational drivers of presenteeism?
* Concern for others
* Management behavior
* Work culture
* Job insecurity
* Job demands
91
What is the gig economy?
A system of employment in which freelance workers sell their skills and services through online marketplaces on a project or task basis.
92
What are the three distinct perspectives about motivation?
* Goals
* Decisions
* Influence
93
Define drive in the context of motivation.
An innate, biological determinant of behavior, activated by deprivation.
94
What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic rewards?
* Intrinsic rewards: Valued outcomes from the individual, such as feelings of satisfaction
* Extrinsic rewards: Valued outcomes provided by others, such as pay increases
95
What does the self-determination theory propose?
We have three equally important innate psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
96
What are motivator factors in job enrichment?
* Achievement
* Recognition
* Responsibility
* Advancement
* Growth
* The work itself
97
What is the job characteristics model?
A model that analyzes jobs in terms of five core dimensions: skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback.
98
What are the three psychological states critical to high work motivation?
* Experienced meaningfulness
* Experienced responsibility
* Knowledge of results
99
What is employee engagement?
Being positively present during the performance of work by willingly contributing intellectual effort, experiencing positive emotions, and meaningful connections to others.
100
Define group dynamics.
The forces operating within groups that affect their performance and members' satisfaction.
101
What is the definition of a group?
Two or more people, in face-to-face interaction, each aware of their group membership and interdependence as they strive to achieve common group goals.
102
What is collaboration overload?
A situation where excessive collaboration leads to burnout and decreased productivity.
103
What are some strategies leaders can use to improve collaboration?
* Map who requests information and who supplies it
* Restructure roles, networks, and schedules to eliminate unnecessary collaboration
104
What is the role of leaders in improving collaboration?
Leaders improve collaboration by mapping who requests information and who supplies it.
105
What should staff do to eliminate unnecessary collaboration?
Restructure their role, network, and schedule.
106
Define 'Team player'.
A person who works willingly in cooperation with others for the benefit of the whole team.
107
What is a group?
Two or more people, in face-to-face interaction, each aware of their group membership and interdependence as they strive to achieve common group goals.
108
What are group dynamics?
The forces operating within groups that affect their performance and their members' satisfaction.
109
What is an aggregate?
A collection of unrelated people who happen to be in close physical proximity for a short period of time.
110
What is the maximum number of members a group is unlikely to exceed?
12.
111
List five characteristics of a group.
* A minimum of two people
* A communication network
* A shared sense of collective identity
* Common goals
* Group structure
112
What challenges do groups face once formed?
Climate, objective, contribution, task division, leadership.
113
According to Borrill and West (2005), what relates to a group's performance?
The task.
114
What is an additive task?
A task whose accomplishment depends on the sum of all group members’ efforts.
115
What is a conjunctive task?
A task whose accomplishment depends on the performance of the group’s least talented member.
116
What is a disjunctive task?
A task whose accomplishment depends on the performance of the group’s most talented member.
117
What did the Hawthorne studies originally examine?
The effect of physical changes.
118
What is the Hawthorne effect?
The tendency of people being observed to behave differently than they otherwise would.
119
What does the human relations approach emphasize?
The importance of social processes at work.
120
Define 'work passion'.
A strong inclination towards a job that you like, and into which you invest your time and energy.
121
What did Rensis Likert (1961) suggest about people in organizations?
People in organizations are members of several groups at the same time.
122
What is a formal group?
One that has been consciously created by management to accomplish a defined task that contributes to the organization’s goal.
123
What characterizes informal groups?
A collection of individuals who develop interdependencies, influence one another’s behavior, and contribute to mutual need satisfaction.
124
What is group self-organization?
The collective process of communication, choice and mutual adjustment in behavior based on a shared goal among members.
125
What are the three types of environments that affect a group?
* Physical
* Technological
* Social
126
What are activities in Homan’s theory?
The physical movements, and verbal and non-verbal behaviors, engaged in by the group members.
127
What are interactions in Homan’s theory?
The two-way communications between group members.
128
What are sentiments in Homan’s theory?
The feelings, attitudes and beliefs held by group members towards others.
129
What defines the internal system in group dynamics?
A different set of group members’ activities, interactions and sentiments that emerge from the physical-technological-social environment.
130
What is group development?
The stages a group goes through: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning.
