QUESTION 2 (25 marks)
a. Explain the meaning of the term organisational behavior. (7 marks)
b. Describe three distinct developments in the history of management thought that have contributed, in an important way, to the current understanding of organisational behaviour. (18 marks)
a. Organizational behavior refers to the study of how individuals and groups behave within an organization. It involves analyzing and understanding human behavior in organizational settings and how it influences organizational effectiveness. Organizational behavior focuses on various factors such as attitudes, values, motivation, leadership, communication, group dynamics, and organizational culture. It aims to understand and predict human behavior in order to improve individual and organizational performance.
b. Three distinct developments in the history of management thought that have contributed to the current understanding of organizational behavior are:
1) Scientific Management: Scientific management was developed by Frederick Taylor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It focused on analyzing and optimizing work processes through scientific methods. Taylor believed in applying scientific principles to increase efficiency and productivity in organizations. His ideas emphasized the need for clear division of labor, standardization of processes, time and motion studies, and economic incentives. Scientific management paved the way for understanding the impact of work design and worker motivation on organizational behavior.
2) Human Relations Movement: In the 1930s, researchers like Elton Mayo conducted studies at Western Electric's Hawthorne Works in Chicago, which led to the emergence of the human relations movement. The Hawthorne Studies highlighted the role of social and psychological factors on worker behavior and productivity. They discovered that factors such as attention, recognition, and participative decision-making had a significant impact on employee motivation and job satisfaction. This movement emphasized the importance of social interactions, communication, and employee well-being in organizational behavior.
3) Systems Theory: The systems theory emerged in the 1950s and 1960s and focused on viewing organizations as complex systems composed of interrelated and interdependent components. It emphasized the interconnectivity of various aspects within an organization, such as individuals, groups, structures, tasks, and the external environment. Systems theory helped in understanding how changes in one part of the organization can affect the entire system. This development contributed to the current understanding of organizational behavior by highlighting the importance of analyzing organizations as a whole rather than studying isolated components.
These developments have contributed to the current understanding of organizational behavior by providing insights into various factors influencing behavior within organizations such as work design, motivation, social interactions, leadership, and the interrelatedness of various organizational components.