The study of organizational behavior is a by-product of the Industrial Revolution. Although nominal theories of efficiency have existed since ancient times, early-modern economist Adam Smith is generally considered to be the grandfather of organizational behavior. His seminal work on the division of labor within society, which he defined as a large-scale organization, influenced 19th-century business leaders to organize their increasingly complex firms along similar lines.
The activities of two modern social scientists provided the basis for modern organizational theory. Max Weber, a respected German sociologist, observed and codified intra-organizational roles. Later, in the early 20th century, psychologist Kurt Lewin introduced the scientific method to the study of organizational behavior. The results of his studies remain relevant today and have been co-opted and simplified for use by modern managers and bureaucrats
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