Organizational behavior (often abbreviated OB) 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. That’s a mouthful, so let’s break
it down.
Organizational behavior is a field of study, meaning that it is a distinct area
of expertise with a common body of knowledge. What does it study? It studies
three determinants of behavior in organizations: individuals, groups, and structure.
In addition, OB applies the knowledge gained about individuals, groups,
and the effect of structure on behavior in order to make organizations work
more effectively.