Discussion, Organizational Behaviour

Power and Politics

Leave a comment
Understanding Power and Its Sources

Power is defined as the capacity to influence others to act according to one’s will. It is distinct from leadership, which emphasizes goal alignment between leaders and followers. Power is based on dependence; individuals with control over valued resources gain influence.

There are two primary sources of power:

  1. Formal Power: Derived from an individual’s position within the organization.
  • Coercive Power: Based on fear of negative consequences (e.g., punishment).
  • Reward Power: Stems from the ability to distribute rewards.
  • Legitimate Power: Comes from holding a recognized position in the hierarchy.
  1. Personal Power: Arises from an individual’s unique qualities.
  • Expert Power: Rooted in specialized knowledge or skills.
  • Referent Power: Based on admiration or respect from others, often linked to charisma or personal appeal.
Dependence and Power Dynamics

The degree of dependence influences the strength of power. Dependence increases when:

  • The resource controlled is important, scarce, and without substitutes.
  • Others have limited alternatives or access to those resources.

For example, an organization heavily reliant on a single government contract may become dependent on maintaining that relationship, enhancing the contractor’s power.

Influence Tactics in Organizations

Effective use of influence tactics allows individuals to translate power into action. Common tactics include:

  • Rational Persuasion: Using logic and factual evidence to support a request.
  • Inspirational Appeals: Appealing to values or emotions to gain support.
  • Consultation: Involving others in decision-making.
  • Exchange: Offering benefits in return for compliance.
  • Ingratiation: Using flattery or friendly behavior before making requests.
  • Pressure: Employing demands or threats.
  • Coalitions: Enlisting others to back an initiative.

Research shows that softer tactics like consultation and inspirational appeals tend to be more effective than hard tactics like pressure.

Political Behavior in Organizations

Organizational politics refers to the use of power to affect decision-making in ways that serve individual interests, sometimes at the expense of the organization. Political behavior includes:

  • Withholding information.
  • Forming coalitions.
  • Spreading rumors or influencing decisions through indirect means.

While politics can be seen as negative, it can also drive necessary change and provide employees with tools to manage uncertainty.

Ethics and Power Abuse

Power, when misused, can have detrimental effects. Individuals in powerful positions may focus more on personal gain, leading to unethical behavior, such as manipulation or harassment. Organizations need to implement systems that promote accountability and prevent abuse.

Sexual harassment is a critical example of power abuse, occurring when individuals exploit authority to engage in unwanted behavior. Organizations must establish clear policies, ensure complaints are addressed, and protect employees from retaliation.

Conclusion

Power and politics are inevitable in any organization, shaping interactions and influencing decisions. Understanding the sources and dynamics of power allows managers and employees to navigate organizational politics effectively. By promoting ethical behavior and transparency, organizations can mitigate the negative aspects of power while harnessing its potential to achieve goals and drive positive change.

Discussion, Organizational Behaviour

Communication

Leave a comment
Types of Interpersonal Communication
  1. Oral Communication: Spoken words exchanged in meetings, conversations, or speeches. It can be synchronous (e.g., live meetings) or asynchronous (e.g., voicemails). This mode allows for instant feedback but is susceptible to distortion if messages pass through multiple people.
  2. Written Communication: Includes emails, reports, and text messages. It provides a record of information but can be slower and subject to misinterpretation without nonverbal cues.
  3. Nonverbal Communication: Consists of gestures, facial expressions, and body language that accompany verbal messages. These cues play a key role in conveying emotions and attitudes, sometimes more than the words spoken.
Barriers to Effective Communication
  1. Information Overload: When too much information exceeds an individual’s capacity to process, leading to missed or ignored messages.
  2. Communication Apprehension: Anxiety about communicating can hinder effective interaction, especially in new or stressful situations.
  3. Miscommunication in Crisis: During crises, emotions and time pressure complicate clear communication, emphasizing the need for structured messaging.
Choosing Communication Methods

Selecting the right communication method is crucial to ensuring effectiveness:

  • Meetings: Suitable for collaborative discussions and setting expectations. However, they can be draining and should be purposeful.
  • Phone Calls: Ideal for urgent or complex issues requiring immediate resolution.
  • Emails: Useful for documentation, formal communication, or sharing detailed instructions.
  • Text Messaging/Instant Messaging: Effective for quick updates or informal coordination but should be used with caution to avoid disruptions.
Virtual Communication and Technology

Advancements in technology have reshaped how organizations communicate. Tools like videoconferencing, Slack, and Google Meet enable remote collaboration. However, these tools also introduce challenges such as Zoom fatigue and the need for nonverbal cues in virtual meetings. Best practices for videoconferencing include managing background distractions, maintaining eye contact, and leveraging technology features like chat and screen sharing.

Overcoming Communication Challenges

To address communication barriers:

  1. Active and Reflective Listening: Engaging fully in conversations helps build trust and reduce misunderstandings.
  2. Managing Email Overload: Limiting email usage and organizing messages improve productivity.
  3. Fostering Cross-Cultural Communication: Awareness of cultural differences enhances collaboration in diverse teams.
Conclusion

Effective communication is essential for organizational success, impacting decision-making, employee engagement, and collaboration. By strategically selecting communication methods, leveraging technology, and addressing barriers, organizations can improve their communication processes and create more connected, productive work environments.

Discussion, Organizational Behaviour

Understanding Work Teams

Leave a comment
Differences Between Groups and Teams

A group refers to individuals interacting to share information and make decisions that help members perform independently. In contrast, a team generates positive synergy through coordinated efforts, achieving performance greater than the sum of individual contributions. While all teams are groups, not all groups are teams. Effective teams require interdependence and shared goals that result in meaningful collective outputs.

Types of Teams
  1. Problem-Solving Teams: These teams consist of members from the same department who meet to discuss ways to improve work processes and solve issues.
  2. Self-Managed Work Teams: Members take on supervisory roles and are responsible for managing tasks, making decisions, and achieving outcomes without direct supervision.
  3. Cross-Functional Teams: Employees from different departments collaborate to solve complex problems or coordinate projects.
  4. Virtual Teams: These teams rely on technology to connect members who work from different locations. Trust and communication are crucial to their success.
  5. Multiteam Systems: This “team of teams” framework coordinates multiple interdependent teams to achieve broader objectives.
Characteristics of Effective Teams
  1. Clear Purpose and Goals: Successful teams have well-defined objectives and a shared sense of purpose.
  2. Team Composition: Teams perform better when members’ skills, personalities, and roles align with the team’s needs.
  3. Cohesion and Trust: High levels of trust and strong interpersonal bonds foster collaboration and enhance team performance.
  4. Communication: Open and effective communication ensures members stay aligned with team goals and processes.
  5. Team Efficacy: Teams that believe in their collective abilities are more motivated and likely to succeed.
  6. Diversity: Diverse teams bring multiple perspectives but may require more time to achieve synergy.
Overcoming Challenges in Teamwork

Teams face several challenges, including social loafing (members exerting less effort), groupthink (the tendency to conform to group consensus), and conflict management. To address these issues, organizations should ensure accountability, encourage diverse opinions, and provide training in conflict resolution.

Building and Sustaining Effective Teams

Organizations can create high-performing teams by:

  • Selecting the Right Team Members: Hiring individuals with relevant technical and interpersonal skills.
  • Providing Adequate Resources and Support: Teams need sufficient information, tools, and administrative assistance to thrive.
  • Establishing Clear Roles and Responsibilities: Defined roles reduce ambiguity and enhance coordination.
  • Monitoring and Feedback: Regular assessments help identify and address performance gaps.
  • Encouraging Reflexivity: Teams should reflect on their processes and make adjustments when necessary.
Conclusion

Understanding and managing work teams is crucial for organizational success. Effective teams foster creativity, innovation, and problem-solving, contributing to better outcomes. However, building and sustaining high-performing teams require intentional effort, clear goals, trust, and continuous improvement. Organizations that cultivate strong teams will benefit from enhanced collaboration and sustained performance.

Discussion, Organizational Behaviour

Foundations of Group Behavior

Leave a comment
Defining and Classifying Groups

In organizational behavior (OB), a group consists of two or more individuals who interact and depend on one another to achieve objectives. Groups are classified as:

  • Formal Groups: Structured by the organization, with specific roles (e.g., a flight crew).
  • Informal Groups: Naturally formed for social purposes (e.g., coworkers gathering for lunch).

Both formal and informal groups influence behavior and performance within an organization.

Social Identity and Group Membership

Social identity theory explains how individuals derive self-esteem from the groups they belong to. People feel emotionally connected to their group’s successes or failures, reinforcing their identification with the group. This identification can foster loyalty and influence behavior within the organization.

Stages of Group Development

The punctuated-equilibrium model outlines how temporary groups evolve:

  1. The group establishes direction during its first meeting.
  2. The first phase is marked by inertia with limited progress.
  3. A transition occurs at the group’s midpoint, triggering changes.
  4. The second phase involves executing revised plans.
  5. The group’s final meeting accelerates activities to complete its objectives.

This model emphasizes how time-bound groups shift between periods of stability and bursts of activity.

Group Properties and Their Impact
  1. Roles: Group members assume roles based on expectations and perceptions. Role conflict arises when different roles clash, such as balancing professional and family responsibilities.
  2. Norms: Groups establish behavioral standards. Norms dictate acceptable conduct and significantly influence performance and collaboration. The Hawthorne Studies highlighted how group norms, rather than working conditions, impact productivity.
  3. Status: Socially defined rank affects group dynamics. High-status individuals resist conformity pressures, while status inequities can create conflict. Group performance improves when members perceive fair status distribution.
  4. Size: Group size affects performance and interaction. Smaller groups are more effective for tasks requiring coordination, while larger groups provide diverse perspectives for problem-solving.
  5. Cohesion: Cohesive groups perform better, especially when their norms align with organizational goals. Strategies to increase cohesion include fostering interaction, setting group goals, and encouraging collaboration.
Group Decision-Making

Group decision-making offers several benefits, such as increased information, diverse perspectives, and greater acceptance of outcomes. However, it also presents challenges:

  • Groupthink: The pressure to conform can stifle critical thinking and creativity.
  • Groupshift: Members may adopt more extreme positions after group discussions.
  • Social Loafing: Individuals exert less effort when working in groups compared to working alone. Managers can mitigate this by setting clear expectations and individual accountability.
Conclusion

Group behavior significantly influences organizational success. By understanding the dynamics of group development, norms, roles, and decision-making processes, managers can harness the power of groups while minimizing potential challenges. Effective group management fosters collaboration, enhances performance, and ensures alignment with organizational goals.

Discussion, Organizational Behaviour

Motivation Concepts

Leave a comment
Key Elements of Motivation

Motivation involves three core elements:

  1. Intensity: The effort an individual exerts toward a goal.
  2. Direction: How the effort aligns with the organization’s objectives.
  3. Persistence: The ability to sustain effort over time despite obstacles.

These elements work together to channel individual behavior toward meaningful and productive activities.

Classic Theories of Motivation

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: This theory suggests that individuals are motivated by five levels of needs—physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization. Individuals progress through these levels as lower needs are satisfied. Though widely popular, this theory has faced criticism for its lack of empirical support.

Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory: Herzberg identified two categories of factors—hygiene factors, which prevent dissatisfaction (e.g., salary, work conditions), and motivators, which promote satisfaction (e.g., recognition, achievement). This theory emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivators in job satisfaction.

McClelland’s Theory of Needs: This theory focuses on three needs: achievement, power, and affiliation. Individuals are motivated by the need to excel, influence others, or build strong relationships, depending on their personal traits.

Contemporary Theories of Motivation

Self-Determination Theory (SDT): SDT posits that motivation is strongest when tasks align with an individual’s need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Employees are more motivated when they feel their work is meaningful and self-directed.

Goal-Setting Theory: This theory emphasizes the importance of setting specific, challenging goals. Goals improve performance by directing attention, sustaining effort, and fostering the development of strategies. Feedback and participation in goal setting enhance commitment.

Expectancy Theory: Vroom’s expectancy theory suggests that motivation is a function of three factors—expectancy (effort will lead to performance), instrumentality (performance will lead to rewards), and valence (rewards are desirable). Employees are motivated when they believe their efforts will result in valued outcomes.

Reinforcement and Social Learning Theories

Reinforcement Theory: Behavior is influenced by its consequences. Positive reinforcement strengthens desired behavior, while negative reinforcement or punishment reduces unwanted actions. Organizations use this approach through incentives and rewards to shape behavior.

Social Learning Theory: This theory emphasizes the role of observation in learning. Employees model behavior from peers or supervisors, demonstrating how reinforcement and perception interact to influence motivation.

Organizational Justice and Motivation

Motivation is also impacted by perceptions of fairness in the workplace:

  • Distributive Justice: Fairness in resource distribution.
  • Procedural Justice: Fairness in decision-making processes.
  • Interactional Justice: Respectful and transparent communication.

When employees perceive fairness, they are more likely to be motivated and committed to their roles.

Application of Motivation Theories

Motivated employees tend to perform better, contribute more to organizational goals, and experience higher job satisfaction. Managers can enhance motivation by:

  • Aligning rewards with individual and organizational goals.
  • Offering opportunities for growth and recognition.
  • Encouraging participation in goal setting and providing timely feedback.
  • Promoting autonomy and meaningful work.
Conclusion

Understanding motivation helps organizations create environments that foster employee engagement and productivity. By applying various motivation theories, managers can design policies and practices that meet employees’ needs, align their efforts with organizational objectives, and maintain long-term commitment and satisfaction.

Mock Exam, Organizational Behaviour

Midterms Mock Exam: Oranizational Behaviour

Leave a comment
Organizational Behaviour
1. Define Organizational Behavior (OB) and explain its importance in modern business practices.
  • Organizational Behavior (OB) refers to the study of how individuals, groups, and structures impact behavior within organizations, with the aim of improving organizational effectiveness. Its importance lies in understanding factors such as motivation, communication, and group dynamics, which influence productivity and employee satisfaction, ultimately contributing to business success.
2. Enumerate and discuss the main behavioral science disciplines that contribute to the study of OB.
The major disciplines that contribute to Organizational Behavior are:

  1. Psychology – Focuses on individual behavior and mental processes.
  2. Social Psychology – Examines how people influence each other.
  3. Sociology – Studies social systems, group dynamics, and organizational culture.
  4. Anthropology – Provides insights into cultural differences and their impact on organizations.
    These disciplines help managers understand how to better manage people, culture, and interpersonal interactions within organizations.
3. What are the key roles of managers as described by Mintzberg, and how do they impact organizational effectiveness?
Mintzberg identifies three main categories of managerial roles:

  1. Interpersonal Roles – Include being a figurehead, leader, and liaison, which help in fostering relationships.
  2. Informational Roles – Managers act as monitors, disseminators, and spokespersons to manage information flow.
  3. Decisional Roles – They involve making strategic decisions as entrepreneurs, disturbance handlers, resource allocators, and negotiators.
    These roles are crucial for achieving efficiency, maintaining team dynamics, and ensuring that organizations respond effectively to challenges and opportunities.
4. Identify the core challenges and opportunities managers face when applying OB principles in a global and diverse workforce.
Managers today encounter challenges such as:

  1. Managing Workforce Diversity – Adapting to differences in gender, age, race, and cultural backgrounds.
  2. Globalization – Operating in different cultural environments with varying norms and legal requirements.
  3. Technological Change – Dealing with the impact of social media, AI, and remote work.
    Opportunities include fostering innovation, improving employee satisfaction through inclusion, and gaining a competitive advantage by leveraging diversity.
5. Explain the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its relevance in promoting ethical behavior within organizations.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) involves self-regulated actions by organizations to benefit society and the environment beyond legal requirements. It enhances the company’s reputation, improves employee morale, and fosters positive customer relationships. CSR also encourages ethical behavior by aligning business goals with societal values, thus promoting sustainable business practices and contributing to long-term success.
Diversity
1. What are the two main types of diversity, and how do they influence workplace interactions?
The two main types of diversity are surface-level diversity and deep-level diversity.

  1. Surface-level diversity refers to visible characteristics such as age, gender, race, and ethnicity, which may activate stereotypes but do not reflect individual thoughts or feelings.
  2. Deep-level diversity includes values, personality, and work preferences, which become more significant over time as people interact and learn about each other.
    Understanding both types is crucial for effective teamwork and reducing conflicts based on superficial judgments.
2. Explain the concept of ability-job fit and its significance in organizational performance.
The ability-job fit refers to how well an individual’s abilities align with the requirements of a specific job. It ensures that employees can perform their tasks effectively, leading to better productivity and job satisfaction. Misalignment can result in stress, reduced efficiency, and increased turnover. Organizations must evaluate both the physical and intellectual abilities of employees to assign appropriate roles, improving performance and job engagement.
3. Enumerate the dimensions of intellectual abilities and describe their relevance in job performance.
The dimensions of intellectual abilities include:

  1. Number aptitude – Ability to perform arithmetic tasks quickly and accurately.
  2. Verbal comprehension – Understanding spoken or written words and their relationships.
  3. Perceptual speed – Identifying visual similarities and differences quickly.
  4. Inductive reasoning – Identifying patterns and solving problems logically.
  5. Deductive reasoning – Applying logic to assess arguments and draw conclusions.
  6. Spatial visualization – Imagining the impact of changes to spatial arrangements.
  7. Memory – Retaining and recalling past experiences.
    These abilities influence tasks requiring analytical thinking, problem-solving, and learning, making them essential for performance in various roles.
4. Discuss the role of diversity management in creating inclusive workplaces.
Diversity management involves strategies and programs designed to increase awareness of and sensitivity to individual differences within the workforce. It aims to create a supportive environment where employees feel valued and included, regardless of their backgrounds. Effective diversity management reduces discrimination, promotes innovation by leveraging diverse perspectives, and helps organizations attract and retain talent. It is essential for fostering an equitable workplace where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential.
5. What are the nine physical abilities listed in the document, and why are they important for certain job roles?
The nine physical abilities are:

  1. Dynamic strength – Exerting muscular force repeatedly over time.
  2. Trunk strength – Using core muscles effectively.
  3. Static strength – Exerting force against external objects.
  4. Explosive strength – Expending energy in sudden bursts.
  5. Extent flexibility – Moving the back and trunk muscles to their maximum range.
  6. Dynamic flexibility – Performing rapid flexing movements repeatedly.
  7. Body coordination – Synchronizing different body parts for complex movements.
  8. Balance – Maintaining equilibrium despite destabilizing forces.
  9. Stamina – Sustaining effort over extended periods.
    These abilities are particularly important for jobs requiring physical exertion, such as construction, sports, and emergency services, ensuring both safety and performance in physically demanding roles.

Here are five essay questions based on the content of the PDF on attitudes and job satisfaction. Each question invites students to explore core concepts with answers wrapped in the requested format.

Attitudes and Job Satisfaction
1. Describe the three components of an attitude and provide examples of each.
The three components of an attitude are:

  1. Affective Component – This refers to the emotional aspect of an attitude. For example, feeling frustrated with a long commute.
  2. Cognitive Component – This is the opinion or belief segment of an attitude, such as believing that “remote work increases productivity.”
  3. Behavioral Component – This reflects the intention to behave in a certain way, like deciding to find a new job due to dissatisfaction with current working conditions.
    These components together influence how individuals react to various situations in the workplace.
2. Explain the concept of cognitive dissonance and how individuals resolve it.
Cognitive dissonance occurs when there is a conflict between two or more attitudes or between behavior and attitudes. For example, an employee might feel uncomfortable working overtime if they value work-life balance. To resolve dissonance, individuals can:

  1. Change their attitude or behavior (e.g., accepting that overtime is necessary occasionally).
  2. Minimize the importance of the conflict (e.g., viewing overtime as a rare occurrence).
  3. Seek justification for the behavior (e.g., focusing on the rewards of overtime).
    Reducing cognitive dissonance helps individuals align their beliefs and behaviors to avoid psychological discomfort.
3. What are the different types of organizational commitment, and how do they affect employee behavior?
The three types of organizational commitment are:

  1. Affective Commitment – Emotional attachment to the organization, resulting in employees staying because they want to.
  2. Normative Commitment – A sense of obligation to remain, often driven by moral or ethical reasons.
  3. Continuance Commitment – Staying with the organization due to the perceived economic costs of leaving.
    Employees with strong affective commitment are more likely to engage actively, while those with continuance commitment may stay despite low job satisfaction.
4. How does job satisfaction influence absenteeism and employee turnover?

Job satisfaction has a direct but varying impact on absenteeism and turnover:

  • Absenteeism: There is generally a negative relationship between job satisfaction and absenteeism, but this relationship can be weak when organizations offer liberal leave policies.
  • Turnover: There is a stronger negative correlation between job satisfaction and turnover, meaning dissatisfied employees are more likely to leave. However, this effect is moderated by job opportunities elsewhere; employees may stay despite dissatisfaction if they lack better options.

5. Define Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) and explain its role in the workplace.
Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) refers to voluntary actions by employees that are not part of their formal job requirements but promote the effective functioning of the organization. For example, an employee helping a colleague meet a deadline or bringing in coffee for the team.
OCB enhances teamwork, improves morale, and contributes to organizational success by fostering a supportive work environment. Employees who feel fairly treated and engaged are more likely to exhibit OCB, leading to improved performance and customer satisfaction.

Here are five essay questions based on the content of the PDF on emotions and moods. Each question encourages students to explore key ideas and answer in a thoughtful, essay format, with responses wrapped as requested.

Emotions and Moods
1. Differentiate between emotions, moods, and affect, providing examples of each.
Emotions are intense feelings directed at someone or something, such as anger after a disagreement. Moods are less intense feelings without a specific trigger, like feeling content for no particular reason. Affect is a broad term encompassing both emotions and moods, representing the range of feelings people experience. For instance, a person may feel joyful (emotion) in response to good news and stay in a positive mood for the rest of the day.
2. Explain the concept of emotional labor and its impact on employees in the workplace.
Emotional labor refers to the process of managing emotions to meet organizational expectations during interpersonal interactions. Employees in service roles, such as customer service representatives, often engage in emotional labor by displaying positive emotions, even when they don’t feel that way. This can lead to emotional dissonance, where there is a conflict between felt and displayed emotions, potentially causing burnout and stress. Managing emotional labor effectively is crucial for employee well-being and customer satisfaction.
3. Discuss the significance of emotional intelligence (EI) in the workplace and identify its five components.
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize and manage one’s emotions and those of others. The five components of EI are:

  1. Self-awareness – Knowing how you feel.
  2. Self-management – Controlling impulses and emotions.
  3. Self-motivation – Maintaining motivation and perseverance.
  4. Empathy – Understanding others’ emotions.
  5. Social skills – Managing relationships effectively.
    High EI improves leadership, decision-making, and interpersonal relationships, making it a valuable trait for workplace success.
4. What is the Affective Events Theory (AET), and how does it explain the relationship between emotions and job performance?
The Affective Events Theory (AET) suggests that emotions are responses to workplace events, influencing both job performance and satisfaction. According to the theory, personality and mood affect the intensity of emotional responses. Positive or negative emotional fluctuations throughout the day impact performance and satisfaction. For example, receiving praise can uplift mood and increase productivity, while workplace conflicts may cause frustration and reduce focus. AET highlights the importance of managing emotions to maintain job satisfaction and effectiveness.
5. How do cultural differences influence the expression of emotions, and what are some examples?
Cultures vary in how they value and express emotions. For example, Western cultures tend to view pride as a positive emotion, while Eastern cultures may see it as undesirable. Additionally, gestures like smiling can carry different meanings across cultures: in Western countries, a smile indicates happiness, whereas in some Middle Eastern contexts, it can be interpreted as a sign of attraction. These differences highlight the importance of cultural awareness when interpreting emotions in a globalized workplace.

Here are five essay questions based on the content of the PDF on personality and values. Each question encourages students to engage with the concepts and present their thoughts in essay form, with answers wrapped as requested.

Personality Values
1. Describe the Big Five personality traits and explain how they impact workplace behavior.
The Big Five personality traits include:

  1. Extroversion – Sociable and assertive individuals who thrive in group settings.
  2. Agreeableness – Cooperative and trustworthy, promoting teamwork.
  3. Conscientiousness – Organized and dependable, leading to higher performance.
  4. Openness to Experience – Imaginative and curious, often fostering creativity.
  5. Emotional Stability – Calm under stress, contributing to effective decision-making.
    These traits influence job performance, leadership effectiveness, and interpersonal relationships in the workplace, with conscientiousness often being the most predictive of high job performance.
2. Explain the concept of core self-evaluation and its components. How does it influence job performance?
Core self-evaluation refers to an individual’s fundamental assessment of themselves, influencing their behavior and motivation. The two main components are:

  1. Self-esteem – A person’s overall sense of self-worth or personal value.
  2. Locus of control – The extent to which individuals believe they have control over events.
    Individuals with positive core self-evaluations are more motivated, handle challenges better, and are generally more successful in their roles, contributing to higher job performance and satisfaction.
3. What is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and why should it not be used for employee selection?
The MBTI categorizes individuals into one of 16 personality types based on four dimensions:

  1. Extraversion vs. Introversion – Preference for interaction vs. solitude.
  2. Sensing vs. Intuition – Focus on details vs. big picture.
  3. Thinking vs. Feeling – Emphasis on logic vs. personal values.
  4. Judging vs. Perceiving – Preference for structure vs. spontaneity.
    While MBTI can be useful for self-awareness and career development, it should not be used for employee selection because it lacks a direct correlation with job performance, making it an unreliable predictor for hiring decisions.
4. Discuss the difference between terminal and instrumental values according to the Rokeach Value Survey.
In the Rokeach Value Survey, values are divided into:

  1. Terminal values – Desirable end-states, such as happiness, success, or social recognition.
  2. Instrumental values – The means to achieve terminal values, such as honesty, hard work, or politeness.
    Understanding the alignment between an individual’s instrumental and terminal values is essential for organizations to foster meaningful work environments and enhance employee satisfaction.
5. How does Hofstede’s cultural framework explain differences in workplace behavior across cultures?
Hofstede’s framework identifies several dimensions that influence behavior across cultures:

  1. Power Distance – Acceptance of unequal power distribution.
  2. Individualism vs. Collectivism – Preference for individual achievement vs. group loyalty.
  3. Masculinity vs. Femininity – Focus on achievement vs. nurturing relationships.
  4. Uncertainty Avoidance – Comfort with ambiguity and change.
  5. Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation – Emphasis on future planning vs. immediate results.
    These cultural dimensions help organizations understand and adapt to diverse workforces, improving cross-cultural communication and collaboration.

Here are five essay questions based on the content of the PDF on perception and individual decision-making. Each question prompts students to explore essential concepts and elaborate on them, with answers wrapped as requested.

Perception and Individual Decision Making
1. Explain the concept of attribution theory and the factors that determine internal and external attributions.
Attribution theory explores how people determine the causes of others’ behavior, categorizing them as either internal (caused by personal traits) or external (due to environmental factors). The three main factors are:

  1. Distinctiveness – Whether the behavior is unusual for the person in different situations.
  2. Consensus – Whether others behave similarly in the same situation.
  3. Consistency – Whether the behavior occurs repeatedly over time.
    For example, if an employee is late only occasionally (low consistency), the cause may be external, such as unexpected traffic.
2. What is the fundamental attribution error, and how does it impact workplace interactions?
The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overemphasize internal factors (like personality) and underestimate external factors when judging others’ behavior. For example, if a colleague misses a deadline, we may assume they are lazy (internal) rather than considering external factors like excessive workload. This bias can create misunderstandings, strain relationships, and affect teamwork if managers and employees do not accurately assess the true causes of behavior.
3. Describe the common perceptual shortcuts used in judging others and provide examples for each.
Several perceptual shortcuts influence how we judge others:

  1. Selective Perception – We see what we want to see based on our interests and experiences. For instance, managers may overlook poor behavior in top performers.
  2. Halo Effect – Forming a general impression of someone based on a single trait, like assuming a well-dressed employee is competent.
  3. Contrast Effect – Evaluating someone relative to others recently encountered, such as viewing a good candidate poorly after interviewing an excellent one.
  4. Projection – Attributing personal traits to others, like assuming others share the same work ethic.
  5. Stereotyping – Judging someone based on group identity, such as assuming certain traits based on gender or race.
    These shortcuts can simplify decision-making but often lead to biased judgments.
4. Compare the rational decision-making model with bounded rationality in the context of organizational decision-making.
The rational decision-making model assumes that individuals can identify problems clearly, evaluate all options, and select the optimal solution. It follows structured steps like defining the problem, identifying criteria, and evaluating alternatives. However, bounded rationality acknowledges that humans cannot process all information due to limitations in time, cognitive ability, and available data. Instead of maximizing outcomes, individuals opt for satisficing, selecting the first satisfactory solution rather than the best. This approach reflects how decisions are made in real-world settings, especially under pressure.
5. How do individual biases and errors affect decision-making, and what strategies can reduce their impact?
Common biases and errors in decision-making include:

  1. Overconfidence Bias – Believing too strongly in one’s ability to make accurate decisions.
  2. Anchoring Bias – Relying too heavily on the first piece of information received.
  3. Confirmation Bias – Focusing only on information that supports existing beliefs.
  4. Escalation of Commitment – Continuing a failing course of action despite negative feedback.
  5. Hindsight Bias – Believing an outcome was predictable after it has occurred.
    To reduce these biases, decision-makers should focus on clear goals, seek disconfirming evidence, avoid over-relying on early information, and increase the number of alternatives considered. Combining rational analysis with intuition can also enhance decision-making.

Reviewer, Organizational Behaviour

Midterms Reviewer: Organizational Behaviour

Leave a comment
Organizational Behavior
1. Definition of Organizational Behavior (OB)
  • OB: “A field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness.”
2. Managerial Functions
  • Planning: Defining goals, establishing strategy, and developing plans to coordinate activities.
  • Organizing: Determining tasks, grouping them, assigning responsibility, and deciding authority structures.
  • Leading: Motivating, directing others, selecting communication channels, and resolving conflicts.
  • Controlling: Monitoring performance to ensure activities align with the plan and correcting deviations.
3. Mintzberg’s Managerial Roles
  • Interpersonal Roles: Figurehead, Leader, Liaison.
  • Informational Roles: Monitor, Disseminator, Spokesperson.
  • Decisional Roles: Entrepreneur, Disturbance Handler, Resource Allocator, Negotiator.
4. Managerial Skills
  • Technical Skills: Applying specialized knowledge or expertise.
  • Human Skills: Working with, understanding, and motivating individuals and groups.
  • Conceptual Skills: Analyzing and diagnosing complex situations.
5. Challenges and Opportunities in OB
  • Responding to Globalization: Managing foreign assignments and cross-cultural teams.
  • Managing Workforce Diversity: Adapting to heterogeneous workforces in terms of gender, age, and ethnicity.
  • Improving Customer Service: Developing customer-responsive cultures.
  • Balancing Work-Life Conflicts: Helping employees maintain work-life balance.
  • Improving Ethical Behavior: Promoting integrity and justice in organizations.
6. Systematic Study and Intuition
  • Systematic Study: “Looking at relationships, attempting to attribute causes and effects, and drawing conclusions based on scientific evidence.”
  • Intuition: “Gut feelings” about behaviors and decisions without evidence-based support.
7. Contributing Disciplines to OB
  • Psychology: Understanding individual behavior, emotions, and personality.
  • Sociology: Studying group behavior and organizational culture.
  • Social Psychology: Examining interpersonal influence and behavior in groups.
  • Anthropology: Investigating cultural values and behaviors across societies.
8. Dependent Variables in OB
  • Productivity: A measure of effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Job Satisfaction: A positive feeling about one’s job based on evaluation of its characteristics.
  • Absenteeism: Failure to report to work.
  • Turnover: Voluntary or involuntary withdrawal from an organization.
  • Deviant Workplace Behavior: Voluntary behavior violating organizational norms and threatening well-being.
  • Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB): Discretionary behavior that promotes organizational functioning.
9. Contingency Variables
  • Contingency Variables: “Situational factors that make the main relationship between two variables change.”
Diversity and Individual Behavior
1. Ability and Intelligence
  • Ability: “An individual’s capacity to perform the various tasks in a job.”
  • Intellectual Ability: “The capacity to do mental activities (thinking, reasoning, solving).”
  • Multiple Intelligences: Intelligence contains four subparts—cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural.
2. Dimensions of Intellectual Ability
  1. Number Aptitude: Ability to perform speedy and accurate arithmetic.
  2. Verbal Comprehension: Ability to understand written or spoken material and relationships between words.
  3. Perceptual Speed: Ability to identify visual similarities and differences quickly.
  4. Inductive Reasoning: Ability to identify logical sequences and solve problems.
  5. Deductive Reasoning: Ability to use logic to assess arguments and implications.
  6. Spatial Visualization: Ability to imagine how an object would look when its position is altered.
  7. Memory: Ability to retain and recall experiences.
3. Physical Abilities
  • Physical Abilities: Capacity to perform tasks that require stamina, strength, and dexterity.
Strength Factors
  1. Dynamic Strength: Ability to exert muscular force repeatedly over time.
  2. Trunk Strength: Use of abdominal and trunk muscles to exert strength.
  3. Static Strength: Ability to apply force against external objects.
  4. Explosive Strength: Exerting maximum energy in explosive actions.
Flexibility Factors
  1. Extent Flexibility: Ability to stretch the trunk and back muscles.
  2. Dynamic Flexibility: Making rapid, repeated movements.
Other Factors
  1. Body Coordination: Coordinating multiple body parts simultaneously.
  2. Balance: Maintaining equilibrium despite forces pulling out of balance.
  3. Stamina: Sustaining maximum effort over an extended period.
4. The Ability-Job Fit
  • Ability-Job Fit: Ensuring employees’ abilities match the job’s requirements.
5. Biographical Characteristics
  • Biographical Characteristics: “Personal characteristics—such as age, gender, and race—that are objective and easily obtained from personnel records.”
6. Workforce Diversity
  • Workforce Diversity: “Organizations are becoming heterogeneous in gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and inclusion of diverse groups.”
Levels of Diversity
  1. Surface-Level Diversity: “Differences in easily perceived characteristics (age, gender, race, etc.) that do not reflect how people think but may activate stereotypes.”
  2. Deep-Level Diversity: “Differences in values, personality, and work preferences that become significant as people get to know one another.”
7. Discrimination
  • Discrimination: “Noting of a difference between things and making judgments about individuals based on stereotypes of their demographic group.”
8. Diversity Management
  • Diversity Management: “Programs by which managers make everyone more aware of and sensitive to the needs and differences of others.”
Attitudes and Job Satisfaction
1. Definition of Attitudes
  • Attitudes: “Evaluative statements or judgments concerning objects, people, or events.”
  • Affective Component: The emotional or feeling segment of an attitude.
  • Cognitive Component: The opinion or belief segment of an attitude.
  • Behavioral Component: Intention to behave in a certain way toward someone or something.
2. Cognitive Dissonance Theory (Leon Festinger)
  • Cognitive Dissonance: “Any incompatibility between two or more attitudes or between behavior and attitudes.”
  • People strive to reduce dissonance by altering behavior, attitudes, or perceptions.
  • Factors Influencing Dissonance Reduction:
  • Importance of elements causing dissonance.
  • Degree of influence over elements.
  • Rewards involved in resolving the dissonance.
3. Self-Perception Theory (Daryl Bem)
  • “Individuals come to know their own attitudes, emotions, and internal states by inferring them from observations of their own behavior and the circumstances in which they occur.”
4. Types of Attitudes
  1. Job Involvement: Identifying with one’s job and considering performance important to self-worth.
  2. Organizational Commitment: Identifying with organizational goals and maintaining membership.
  • Affective Commitment: Emotional attachment to the organization.
  • Normative Commitment: Obligation to stay for ethical or moral reasons.
  • Continuance Commitment: Staying because of perceived economic value.
  1. Job Satisfaction: Positive or negative feelings toward a job.
  2. Employee Engagement: “Involvement, satisfaction, and enthusiasm for the organization.”
  3. Perceived Organizational Support (POS): The degree to which employees feel their well-being is valued by the organization.
5. Attitude Surveys
  • Surveys used to collect employees’ feedback about their jobs, work groups, supervisors, and organizations.
6. Job Satisfaction
  • Facets of Satisfaction: Satisfaction with work, pay, promotion, supervision, and coworkers.
  • Influence of Pay: Pay influences satisfaction only up to a point (e.g., $40,000 threshold).
  • Personality and Satisfaction: Negative individuals tend to report lower job satisfaction.
7. Expressions of Job Dissatisfaction
  1. Exit: Behavior directed toward leaving the organization.
  2. Voice: Active, constructive attempts to improve conditions.
  3. Neglect: Allowing conditions to deteriorate.
  4. Loyalty: Waiting passively for conditions to improve.
8. Impact of Job Satisfaction on Performance
  • Happy Worker = Productive Worker: Satisfied employees tend to perform better.
  • Satisfied Employees = Happy Customers: Positive employee experiences improve customer satisfaction.
9. Job Satisfaction, Absenteeism, and Turnover
  • Absenteeism: Negatively related to job satisfaction, though liberal leave policies may encourage absenteeism.
  • Turnover: Strongly negatively related to job satisfaction but moderated by external job prospects.
10. Job Satisfaction and Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB)
  • OCB: “Discretionary behavior that promotes the effective functioning of the organization.”
  • Satisfied employees are more likely to engage in OCBs.
11. Job Satisfaction and Deviant Workplace Behavior
  • Dissatisfaction can lead to:
  • Unionization attempts.
  • Substance abuse.
  • Theft.
  • Tardiness and socializing excessively.
  • Deviant Workplace Behavior: “Voluntary behavior that violates significant organizational norms and threatens the well-being of the organization or its members.”
Emotions and Moods
1. Definitions of Affect, Emotions, and Moods
  • Affect: “A broad range of emotions that people experience.”
  • Emotions: “Intense feelings directed at someone or something.”
  • Moods: “Feelings that tend to be less intense than emotions and that lack a contextual stimulus.”
2. Basic Emotions (Rene Descartes)
  1. Wonder
  2. Love
  3. Hatred
  4. Desire
  5. Joy
  6. Sadness
3. Biology and Dimensions of Emotions
  • Biology of Emotions: Originate in the brain’s limbic system.
  • Intensity of Emotions: Affected by personality and job requirements.
  • Frequency and Duration: Refers to how often emotions are displayed and how long they last.
  • Functions of Emotions: Essential for rational thinking and motivation.
4. Story of Phineas Gage
  • Gage’s accident showed that loss of emotions leads to impaired reasoning. This case demonstrated the essential role of emotions in rational thinking and decision-making.
5. Sources of Emotions and Moods
  • Personality: Some individuals experience emotions more frequently.
  • Day and Time of the Week: Positive moods peak at the end of the week and in the middle of the day.
  • Weather: No significant correlation with mood (illusory correlation).
  • Social Activities: Physical, informal, or dining activities enhance positive moods more than formal or sedentary events.
  • Sleep: Lack of sleep decreases decision-making ability and job satisfaction.
  • Exercise: Releases endorphins (“happy hormones”).
  • Age: Older individuals experience longer positive moods and quicker recovery from negative moods.
  • Gender: Women express emotions more intensely and frequently but are not inherently more emotional than men.
6. Cultural Influences on Emotions
  • Cultural Differences:
  • Pride: Valued positively in Western cultures but negatively in Eastern cultures.
  • Expressions: Smiles are interpreted differently across cultures (e.g., sign of attraction in the Middle East or lack of intelligence in Japan).
7. Emotional Labor
  • Emotional Labor: When employees express organizationally required emotions during interactions.
  • Felt Emotions: An individual’s genuine emotions.
  • Displayed Emotions: Emotions that are organizationally appropriate and expected.
8. Emotional Dissonance
  • Emotional Dissonance: Occurs when people’s felt and displayed emotions differ.
  • Surface Acting: Hiding true feelings and complying with display rules.
  • Deep Acting: Modifying actual inner feelings to align with display rules.
9. Affective Events Theory (AET)
  • AET: Emotions are responses to workplace events, influenced by personality and mood. These emotions affect job performance and satisfaction.
10. Emotional Intelligence (EI)
  • Components of EI:
  • Self-awareness: Knowing one’s emotions.
  • Self-management: Controlling emotions and impulses.
  • Self-motivation: Staying motivated and persistent.
  • Empathy: Understanding others’ emotions.
  • Social Skills: Managing relationships effectively.
11. Organizational Behavior (OB) Applications
  • Decision Making: Emotions are integral to decision processes.
  • Creativity: Positive moods enhance creativity.
  • Motivation: Emotional commitment strengthens motivation.
  • Leadership: Emotions affect the acceptance of leadership messages.
  • Conflict and Negotiation: Emotions shape workplace conflict and negotiation outcomes.
  • Customer Service: Employees’ emotions impact service quality and customer relationships.
  • Deviant Workplace Behavior: Negative emotions lead to deviance, such as theft or aggression.
Personality and Values
1. Definition of Personality
  • Personality: “The sum total of ways in which an individual reacts and interacts with others; measurable traits a person exhibits.”
  • Personality Traits: “Enduring characteristics that describe an individual’s behavior.”
2. Personality Determinants
  • Heredity: Genetic makeup that influences personality.
  • Environment: External factors shaping behavior.
  • Situation: Contextual factors influencing behavior at a given moment.
3. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
  • Personality Dimensions:
  • Extroverted (E) vs. Introverted (I): Outgoing vs. reserved.
  • Sensing (S) vs. Intuitive (N): Practical vs. big-picture thinker.
  • Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F): Logic-driven vs. value-driven.
  • Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P): Structured vs. spontaneous.
  • Application: Useful for self-awareness and career guidance but not ideal for predicting job performance.
4. The Big Five Personality Model
  1. Extroversion: Sociable and assertive.
  2. Agreeableness: Cooperative and trusting.
  3. Conscientiousness: Organized and dependable.
  4. Openness to Experience: Imaginative and curious.
  5. Emotional Stability: Calm and secure under stress.
5. Personality Attributes Influencing OB
  • Core Self-Evaluation:
  • Self-Esteem: Degree of liking oneself.
  • Locus of Control: Belief about control over events (internal vs. external).
  • Machiavellianism: Pragmatic, emotionally distant, justifies means to achieve ends.
  • Narcissism: Grandiosity, need for admiration, sense of entitlement.
  • Self-Monitoring: Adjusting behavior to external situations.
  • Risk-Taking: Quick decision-making with less information.
  • Proactive Personality: Identifies and acts on opportunities for change.
  • Type A vs. Type B Personalities:
  • Type A: Competitive, urgent, multitasking.
  • Type B: Relaxed, not time-obsessed, enjoys leisure.
6. Values and Their Role
  • Definition: “Mode of conduct or end-state that is personally or socially preferable.”
  • Value System: A hierarchy based on intensity of values.
  • Terminal Values: Desired end-states (e.g., freedom, happiness).
  • Instrumental Values: Means to achieve terminal values (e.g., honesty, responsibility).
7. Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
  • Power Distance: Acceptance of unequal power distribution.
  • Individualism vs. Collectivism: Preference for self vs. group.
  • Masculinity vs. Femininity: Value placed on achievement vs. relationships.
  • Uncertainty Avoidance: Tolerance for ambiguity and change.
  • Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation: Focus on future vs. present.
8. Person-Job Fit Theory (Holland)
  • Six Personality Types:
  1. Realistic: Prefers hands-on tasks.
  2. Investigative: Analytical and intellectual.
  3. Social: Enjoys helping others.
  4. Conventional: Prefers structure and routine.
  5. Enterprising: Ambitious and energetic.
  6. Artistic: Creative and expressive.
  • Outcome: Satisfaction and turnover are influenced by the match between personality and job environment.
Perception and Individual Decision Making
1. Definition of Perception
  • Perception: “A process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions to give meaning to their environment.”
  • Importance: Behavior is based on perception of reality, not reality itself.
2. Factors Influencing Perception
  1. The Perceiver: Influenced by personal characteristics like attitudes and experience.
  2. The Target: Characteristics of what is being perceived (e.g., motion or novelty) affect perception.
  3. The Situation: Context, timing, and environment influence perception.
3. Attribution Theory
  • People try to determine whether behavior is internally or externally caused.
  • Key Attribution Factors:
  • Distinctiveness: Whether behavior is different in various situations.
  • Consensus: Whether others behave the same in similar situations.
  • Consistency: Whether the person behaves similarly over time.
4. Errors and Biases in Attributions
  • Fundamental Attribution Error: Overestimating internal causes and underestimating external causes for others’ behavior.
  • Self-Serving Bias: Attributing successes to internal factors and failures to external factors.
5. Common Shortcuts in Judging Others
  1. Selective Perception: Filtering information based on interests, background, and experiences.
  2. Halo Effect: Generalizing about a person based on a single characteristic.
  3. Contrast Effect: Judging someone relative to others recently encountered.
  4. Projection: Attributing one’s own characteristics to others.
  5. Stereotyping: Judging someone based on group membership.
6. Specific Applications in Organizations
  • Employment Interview: Perceptual biases affect the accuracy of interviews.
  • Performance Expectations: Pygmalion effect—employees perform according to leader expectations.
  • Performance Evaluations: Appraisals reflect subjective perceptions of performance.
7. The Rational Decision-Making Model
  1. Define the problem.
  2. Identify decision criteria.
  3. Allocate weights to criteria.
  4. Develop alternatives.
  5. Evaluate alternatives.
  6. Select the best alternative.
  • Assumptions: Problem clarity, known options, constant preferences, no time/cost constraints, and maximum payoff.
8. Bounded Rationality
  • Decision-making is constrained by information-processing limits, leading to satisficing—choosing an acceptable, not optimal, solution.
9. Biases and Errors in Decision Making
  • Overconfidence Bias: Overestimating one’s abilities.
  • Anchoring Bias: Relying too heavily on initial information.
  • Confirmation Bias: Focusing only on information that supports existing beliefs.
  • Availability Bias: Using readily available information to make judgments.
  • Escalation of Commitment: Increasing commitment to a decision despite negative information.
  • Hindsight Bias: Believing, after the outcome, that it was predictable.
10. Intuitive Decision Making
  • An unconscious process based on experience.
  • Favored when:
  • There is high uncertainty.
  • Few facts exist.
  • Time pressure is present.
11. Individual Differences in Decision Making
  • Personality: Conscientiousness and self-esteem influence decision-making behavior.
  • Gender: Women analyze decisions longer than men.
12. Organizational Constraints on Decision Making
  1. Performance Evaluations: Influence action choices.
  2. Reward Systems: Encourage certain decisions.
  3. Formal Regulations: Limit choices with rules and policies.
  4. Time Constraints: Require decisions within deadlines.
  5. Historical Precedents: Influence current decisions.
13. Cultural Differences in Decision Making
  • Western vs. Eastern Cultures:
  • Time orientation: Immediate vs. quality-based decisions.
  • Individual vs. collective decision-making preferences.
14. Ethics in Decision Making
  • Ethical Decision Criteria:
  • Utilitarianism: Seeking the greatest good for the majority.
  • Rights: Respecting and protecting individual rights.
  • Justice: Ensuring fairness and impartiality.
  • Global Ethics: No universal ethical standards; organizations must reflect local norms.
15. Improving Decision Making
  1. Analyze the situation and adjust decision style accordingly.
  2. Recognize and reduce biases.
  3. Combine rational analysis with intuition.
  4. Increase creativity by looking for novel solutions.

Discussion, Organizational Behaviour

Perception and Individual Decision Making

Leave a comment
What Is Perception?

Perception is the process by which individuals organize and interpret sensory information to make sense of their environment. The way people perceive situations is not always aligned with objective reality, leading to differences in behavior and decision-making. Perception in organizations significantly impacts how individuals react to tasks, colleagues, and challenges.

Factors Influencing Perception

Three categories of factors influence perception:

  1. Perceiver: Personal characteristics such as experiences, motives, attitudes, and expectations shape how an individual interprets information.
  2. Target: Features of the target being observed (e.g., novelty, similarity, motion) affect perception.
  3. Situation: Environmental conditions, such as social and work settings, influence how individuals process information.
Attribution Theory

Attribution theory examines how individuals determine the causes behind behaviors. People tend to attribute actions either to internal factors (personal traits) or external factors (situational circumstances). Key determinants include:

  • Distinctiveness: Does the person behave differently in different situations?
  • Consensus: Do others behave similarly in the same situation?
  • Consistency: Does the person behave the same way over time?

Biases such as the fundamental attribution error (overestimating personal factors) and self-serving bias (attributing successes to oneself and failures to external factors) impact judgment.

Common Biases in Decision Making

People often rely on mental shortcuts, leading to biases such as:

  • Selective Perception: Focusing on information that aligns with existing beliefs.
  • Halo and Horns Effects: Allowing one positive or negative trait to influence overall perception.
  • Confirmation Bias: Seeking out information that supports preconceived notions.
  • Anchoring Bias: Relying too heavily on initial information when making decisions.
  • Availability Bias: Overestimating the importance of recent or emotionally vivid events.
  • Escalation of Commitment: Persisting with a course of action despite negative outcomes.
Rational and Intuitive Decision Making

Decision-making processes can be classified into three models:

  1. Rational Model: Involves logically identifying the problem, generating alternatives, evaluating them, and selecting the best option. While ideal, it assumes access to complete information.
  2. Bounded Rationality: Acknowledges that individuals operate within limitations and often settle for “good enough” solutions due to time or information constraints.
  3. Intuitive Decision Making: Based on experience and gut feelings. While useful in certain situations, intuition is prone to biases and must be complemented by rational analysis.
Ethical Decision Making

Decision-making also involves ethical considerations, typically guided by three criteria:

  • Utilitarianism: Focusing on the greatest good for the most people.
  • Rights: Respecting individual rights and freedoms.
  • Justice: Ensuring fairness in the distribution of benefits and burdens.

Managers must navigate these ethical frameworks to maintain trust and transparency in the workplace.

Creativity in Decision Making

Creativity is essential for solving complex problems and generating innovative solutions. The three-stage model of creativity includes:

  1. Preparation: Gathering information and defining the problem.
  2. Incubation: Allowing ideas to develop subconsciously.
  3. Illumination: Arriving at creative insights and solutions.

Organizations can foster creativity by promoting open communication, encouraging experimentation, and providing employees with autonomy.

Conclusion

Perception and decision-making are deeply intertwined, with biases often influencing how decisions are made. By understanding these processes, individuals and organizations can minimize errors, improve decision-making quality, and foster an environment that encourages ethical and creative thinking. Managers must strike a balance between rational analysis and intuitive judgment to adapt effectively to dynamic workplace challenges.

Discussion, Organizational Behaviour

Personality and Individual Differences

Leave a comment
Personality and Its Measurement

Personality refers to the sum of ways in which individuals interact with the world. It is assessed through self-report surveys or observer-rating surveys. While the former involves individuals evaluating their traits, the latter gathers perspectives from coworkers, which often provides a more accurate prediction of job success.

The Big Five Personality Model

This model identifies five key traits that influence workplace behavior:

  1. Conscientiousness: Predicts job performance and safety compliance. However, excessively high conscientiousness may hinder creativity.
  2. Emotional Stability: Linked to job satisfaction and reduced burnout. Low stability can result in conflict and disengagement.
  3. Extroversion: Associated with leadership emergence and positive emotions. However, extroverts may dominate conversations and take excessive risks.
  4. Openness to Experience: Facilitates creativity and adaptability. Open individuals perform well in dynamic environments.
  5. Agreeableness: Enhances teamwork and interpersonal relationships but may lower assertiveness in leadership roles.
Person-Job and Person-Organization Fit

The concept of person-job fit suggests that matching an individual’s personality to a job enhances satisfaction and performance. John Holland’s personality-job fit theory categorizes individuals into six types (e.g., realistic, artistic) to align job roles with personal traits.

In contrast, person-organization fit emphasizes how well an individual’s values align with the company culture. This alignment fosters commitment and reduces turnover. In individualistic cultures, job tailoring to align with personal strengths is more effective than in collectivist societies, where pre-structured roles are valued.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

The MBTI, although popular, lacks empirical support. It categorizes people into 16 personality types based on four dichotomies, such as introversion vs. extroversion. However, it does not reliably predict job performance, and its results may vary over time.

The Dark Triad

The Dark Triad identifies three undesirable traits:

  1. Machiavellianism: Individuals with this trait manipulate others for personal gain. While effective in the short term, it damages long-term relationships.
  2. Narcissism: Narcissists seek admiration and are prone to risky behaviors. While they can inspire others, their lack of empathy can harm organizations.
  3. Psychopathy: Refers to a lack of remorse and empathy. In the workplace, it is linked to unethical behavior and manipulation.
Core Self-Evaluations, Self-Monitoring, and Proactive Personality
  1. Core Self-Evaluations (CSEs): Reflect how individuals view their abilities and worth. Positive CSEs correlate with job satisfaction and goal attainment.
  2. Self-Monitoring: Measures the ability to adjust behavior to situational demands. High self-monitors are adaptable but may appear inauthentic.
  3. Proactive Personality: Describes individuals who take initiative and drive change. Proactive employees are valuable in dynamic work environments.
Situational Influences on Personality

The situation strength theory explains that personality traits predict behavior more accurately in weak situations where norms are ambiguous. Conversely, in strong situations with clear norms, individual personality plays a lesser role. Organizations should balance strong and weak situations to foster creativity and compliance.

Conclusion

Understanding personality and individual differences is essential for organizational success. By leveraging frameworks like the Big Five and aligning employees with suitable roles and cultures, organizations can enhance job satisfaction, performance, and retention. Balancing personality traits with situational demands enables companies to cultivate a productive and adaptive workforce.

Discussion, Organizational Behaviour

Emotions and Moods

Leave a comment
Emotions vs. Moods

Emotions are intense, short-lived, and usually tied to a specific event. They can be positive (like joy or excitement) or negative (such as anger or fear). Moods, on the other hand, are more diffuse and long-lasting, often lacking a clear cause. Emotions involve immediate reactions, while moods create a general emotional state that can affect behavior over time.

Positive and Negative Affect

Positive affect refers to the presence of positive emotions, like enthusiasm and happiness, while negative affect includes emotions such as stress and frustration. Individuals differ in how intensely they experience these states, and affect plays a significant role in shaping workplace behavior and interpersonal interactions.

Emotional Labor and Its Impact

Emotional labor involves managing emotions to align with organizational expectations during interactions. Employees may engage in surface acting (faking emotions) or deep acting (aligning internal feelings with required displays). Although deep acting is associated with higher job satisfaction, surface acting can lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout over time. Long-term emotional dissonance—the conflict between felt and displayed emotions—can diminish job satisfaction and increase stress.

Affective Events Theory (AET)

Affective Events Theory suggests that workplace events trigger emotional responses, influencing attitudes and behaviors. Employees’ moods and personalities shape their reactions to both positive and negative events. For example, a quick, successful meeting can create positive affect, while technical issues can foster frustration. These emotional responses accumulate, influencing job performance and satisfaction over time.

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Emotional Intelligence refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in oneself and others. High EI enhances interpersonal relationships, helps employees handle stress, and improves decision-making. Studies show that individuals with high EI are more likely to succeed in jobs involving social interaction. However, EI tests must be used carefully during hiring processes due to cultural biases and potential inaccuracies.

Emotion Regulation Techniques

Emotion regulation involves consciously managing emotional responses. Techniques include:

  • Cognitive reappraisal: Reframing situations to manage emotional responses.
  • Emotional suppression: Temporarily hiding emotions to maintain professionalism.
  • Social sharing: Expressing emotions to others, which can relieve stress if met with empathy.

However, regulating emotions can be taxing and may lead to emotional fatigue if used excessively.

Influence of Social Interactions and Cultural Differences

Interactions with coworkers and customers significantly shape emotional experiences. Positive social exchanges foster collaboration and satisfaction, while negative interactions can spill over into personal life, affecting relationships outside of work. Cultural factors also influence how emotions are expressed and perceived, with some cultures emphasizing positive emotions more than others.

Application of Emotions and Moods in OB

Emotions and moods influence several key aspects of organizational behavior:

  • Decision-making: Positive moods improve problem-solving abilities, while negative emotions can promote critical thinking but also lead to riskier decisions.
  • Creativity: Positive emotions encourage innovation, though negative emotions might also spark originality in specific contexts.
  • Customer service: Employees with positive affect are more likely to deliver excellent service, which enhances customer satisfaction.
  • Leadership: Leaders who manage emotions effectively inspire trust and improve team performance.
Conclusion

The role of emotions and moods in the workplace cannot be underestimated. By fostering emotional intelligence, supporting healthy emotion regulation, and promoting positive social interactions, organizations can enhance job performance, employee well-being, and overall satisfaction. Understanding these dynamics enables managers to create environments where employees feel valued and motivated, contributing to long-term success.

This summary captures the essence of the content on emotions and moods, focusing on their relevance to organizational behavior and practical applications in the workplace.

My Journey to Master of Management