METHODS USED IN ORGANIZATIONAL STUDIES

A variety of methods are used in organizational studies. They include quantitative methods found in other social sciences such as multiple regression, non-parametric statistics, time dependent analysis and ANOVA. In addition, computer simulation in organizational studies has a long history in organizational studies. Qualitative methods are also used, such as ethnography, which involves direct participant observation, single and multiple case analysis and other historical methods. In the last fifteen years or so, there has been greater focus on language, metaphors and organizational storytelling.

Systems Framework

Kurt Lewin attended the Macy conferences and is commonly identified as the founder of the movement to study groups scientifically.

The systems framework is also fundamental to organizational theory as organizations are complex dynamic goal-oriented processes. One of the early thinkers in the field was Alexander Bogdanov, who developed his Technology, a theory widely considered a precursor of Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory, aiming to model and design human organizations. Kurt Lewin was particularly influential in developing the systems perspective within organizational theory and coined the term "systems of ideology", from his frustration with behavioural psychologies that became an obstacle to sustainable work in psychology. The complexity theory perspective on organizations is another systems view of organizations.

The systems approach to organizations relies heavily upon achieving negative entropy through openness and feedback. A systemic view on organizations is transdisciplinary and integrative. In other words, it transcends the perspectives of individual disciplines, integrating them on the basis of a common "code", or more exactly, on the basis of the formal apparatus provided by systems theory. The systems approach gives primacy to the interrelationships, not to the elements of the system. It is from these dynamic interrelationships that new properties of the system emerge. In recent years, systems thinking has been developed to provide techniques for studying systems in holistic ways to supplement traditional reductionistic methods. In this more recent tradition, systems theory in organizational studies is considered by some as a humanistic extension of the natural sciences.

Theories and Models of Organizational Studies Decision Making

• Mintzberg's Managerial Roles

• Rational Decision-Making Model

• Scientific Management

• Garbage Can Model.

Organization Structures and Dynamics

• Bureaucracy

• Complexity Theory and Organizations

• Contingency Theory

• Evolutionary Theory and Organizations

• Hybrid Organisation

• Incentive Theory (Organization)

• Informal Organization

• Institutional Theory

• Merger Integration

• Organizational Ecology

• Model of Organizational Citizenship Behaviour

• Model of Organizational Justice

• Model of Organizational Misbehaviour

• Resource Dependence Theory

• Transaction Cost

• Hofstede's Framework for Assessing Cultures

• Mintzberg's Organigraph.

DEFINITION OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR (O.B.)

Keith Davis and John Newstrom (1985) has defined O.B. as "the study and application of knowledge how people act or behave within organization. It is a human tool for human benefit. It applies broadly to the behaviour of people in all types of organizations such as business, government, schools and service organizations."

In the opinion of Robbins, "O.B. is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups and structure have on behaviour within organizations for the purpose of applying such knowledge towards improving an organization's effectiveness".

The above definitions are comprehensive ones as these contain all characteristics of O.B. In brief, what O.B. studies are three determinants of behaviour in organizations individuals, groups and structure.

Organizational behaviour in the words of Keith Davis may be defined as - "Organizational behaviour is the study and application of knowledge about human behaviour in organizations as it relates to other system elements, such as structure, technology and the external social system.

To sum up, O.B. is concerned with the study of how and what people act in organizations and also how their acts affect the performance of the organization. It also applies the knowledge gained about individuals, groups and the effect of structure on human behaviour in order to make organizations work more effectively.

Organizational behavior is 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.

An organization is a collection of people who work together to achieve a wide variety of goals, both goals of the various individuals in the organization and goals of the organization as a whole. Organizations exist to provide goods and services that people want. These goods and services are the products of the behaviors of workers.

Organizational behavior is the study of the many factors that have an impact on how individuals and groups respond to and act in organizations and how organizations manage their environments. Although many people assume that understanding human behavior in organizations is intuitive, many commonly held beliefs about behavior in organizations, such as the idea that a "happy worker is a productive worker," are either entirely false or true only in specific situations. The study of organizational behavior provides a set of tools—concepts and theories—that help people understand, analyze and describe what goes on in organizations and why. How do the characteristics of individuals, groups, work situations and the organization itself affect how members feel about their organization?

The ability to use the tools of organizational behavior to understand behavior in organizations is one reason for studying this subject. A second reason is to learn how to apply these concepts, theories and techniques to improve behavior in organizations so that individuals, groups and organizations can achieve their goals. Managers are challenged to find new ways to motivate and coordinate employees to ensure that their goals are aligned with organizational goals.

Organizational Behavior addresses following points:

• Organizational behavior studies the factors that impact individual and group behavior in organizations and how organizations manage their environments. Organizational behavior provides a set of tools—theories and concepts—to understand, analyze, describe and manage attitudes and behavior in organizations.

• The study of organizational behavior can improve and change individual, group and organizational behavior to attain individual, group and organizational goals.

• Organizational behavior can be analyzed at three levels: the individual, the group and the organization as a whole. A full understanding must include an examination of behavioral factors at each level.

• A manager's job is to use the tools of organizational behavior to increase effectiveness, an organization's ability to achieve its goal. Management is the process of planning, organizing, leading and controlling an organization's human, financial, material and other resources to increase its effectiveness.

Contributing Disciplines to the Organizational Behaviour Field

Organizational behavior is an applied behavioral science that is built upon contributions from a number of behavioral disciplines. The predominant areas are psychology, sociology, social psychology, anthropology and political science.

Psychology

Psychology is the science that seeks to measure, explain and sometimes change the behavior of humans and other animals.

Sociology

Sociologists study the social system in which individuals fill their roles; that is, sociology studies people in relation to their fellow human beings.

Social Psychology

An area within psychology that blends concepts from psychology and sociology and that focuses on the influence of people on one another.

Anthropology

The study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities.