Chapter Summary
Organizational behavior is the study of human behavior in the workplace, the interaction between people and the organization with the intent to understand and predict human behavior. The understanding of individual, group, and organizational behavior is critical to success as a leader or a follower, and it requires a systematic study to even begin to grasp all of the variables that impact behavior.
There are three very important points from this chapter:
It is within organizations that the differences in behavior are observed. An organization is a group of two or more people that shares a common goal and meets at regular times. There are many types of organizations, ranging from small groups to clubs to companies; however, the same principles apply to all organizations.
Do not rely on your intuition. Many “common sense” ideas are wrong; therefore, a systematic study is required. A systematic study refers to well-constructed studies that examine the many aspects of human behavior.
Human behavior can be understood and predicted, but it often depends on the contingencies or the situation.
These three points will be reinforced throughout this book