1BUSI1055 Organisation Behaviour
Lecture 1
INTRODUCTION
Dr. Mathew Abraham
Associate Professor in Organisation Behaviour
Nottingham University Business School
1/31/2023
2MODULE AIMS & DESCRIPTION
To introduce students to the
basic ideas and concepts of
Organisational Behaviour and
allow them to develop an
understanding of how individuals
behave as members of groups
and organisations.
1/31/2023
3Learning Outcomes
Students should be able to
 Describe what is management?
 Describe what is/are
organisation(s)?
 Explain why studying organisation
behaviour is important?
 Discuss the need to study people in
organisations?
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Question: What is OB?
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Organizational Behaviour is the study of the structure
and management of organizations, their environments,
and the actions and interactions of their individual
members and groups.
What is Management?
5
Definition
“A process that involves, Planning, Organising,
Leading & Controlling, resources in order to
achieve goals
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Martin, J & Fellenz, M. (2017).
What Are Organisations?
Social entities that are:
⚫ Goal directed
⚫ Linked to environment
⚫ Employing designed and coordinated
activities 61/31/2023
7Definitions of Organisation(s)
 A social arrangement for achieving
controlled performance in pursuit of
collective goals. (Huczynski & Buchanan 2019, pg. 5)
 Individuals and groups interact within the
structure of the formal organisation.
⚫ Structure is created to establish relationships between
individuals and groups to provide order and systems and to
direct the efforts of the organisation into goal-seeking
activities.
⚫ It is through the formal structure that people carry out their
organisational activities to achieve aims and objectives.
⚫ Behaviour is influenced by patterns of structure, technology,
styles of leadership and systems of management through
which organisational processes are planned, directed and
monitored.
1/31/2023 (Mullins, 2016: p.15).
8Why do Organisations exist?
 Because individuals are limited in
their physical and mental capabilities.
 Organisations are mechanisms
through which many people combine
their efforts and work together…more
than what one person could do alone!
 Use everyone’s talents to the fullest,
to achieve outcomes beyond
individual capabilities
(Source: Wood, J., Wallace, J., Zeffane, R.M., Schermerhorn, J.R., Hunt, J.G. and
Osborn, R.N. (2001) Organisational Behaviour: a global perspective (2nd
Ed.). Australia:John Wiley & Sons. Chap. 1: pg 5)
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Positive Organisation Behaviour
 A study of the conditions and processes
that contribute to the flourishing or optimal
functioning of people, groups and
institutions. Positive work-culture.
 Basically focusing on determining how
things go right and how to enhance
people’s satisfaction and well-being.
Efficiency, effectiveness and passion.
 Motivate employees towards ‘pro-social
behaviours’ and identify reasons for
‘antisocial behaviours’. Behaviour
modification
(Mullins, 2016: p.15).
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Levels of analysis in OB
10
Classifications of different levels of analysis in OB
Individual Micro Individual Individual
Interpersonal Interpersonal
Interpersonal/
Group
Meso Group Group
Organisational Intergroup
Organisational Macro Environmental/
Societal
Organisational
Interorganisational
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Competitive Advantage
11
The effective management of people is key to the creation of a
competitive advantage and business strategy execution
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12
Managing People in Organisations
• Management is the activity of getting things done
with the aid of people and other resources.
• Management as a general human activity occurs
whenever people take responsibility for an activity
and consciously try to shape its progress and
outcomes.
• Manager is someone who gets things done with the
aid of other people and by studying the processes
of managing people, we can become better
managers.
• Management takes place in organisational settings,
by studying the behaviour of people in
organisations, we can become more efficient as
managers.
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A Framework for Management and Organisational
Behaviour
131/31/2023 Martin, J & Fellenz, M. (2017)
14
A Multidisciplinary Approach to
Management (1)
• The study of organisational behaviour
cannot be undertaken entirely in terms of a
single discipline. It is necessary to provide
a multidisciplinary behavioural science
approach.
• OB draws from:
• Psychology – both individual and group
behaviour; personality and identity; cognition;
perceptions; beliefs, attitudes and values; and
motives.
• Sociology – social behaviour; social structures
and relationships; leaders and followers;
hegemony; and the maintenance of order.
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(Mullins 2016: p.4-5)
A Multidisciplinary Approach to
Management (2)
• Anthropology – the
study of human
behaviour as a
whole; cultural and
religious systems;
group beliefs,
customs and
values; comparative
behaviour; gender
and sexuality; and
diverse
environments.
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(Mullins 2016: p.4-5).
Approaches to Organisation,
Structure & Management
16
Classical
Human
Relations
Systems Contingency
Emphasis on
purpose
formal
structure,
hierarchy of
management,
technical
requirements
& common
principles of
organisation.
Attention to
social factors
at work,
groups,
leadership, the
informal
organisation
and behaviour
of people
The integration
of the classical
and human
relations
approaches.
Importance of
the socio-
technical system.
The organisation
within its
external
environment
No one best
design of
organisation.
Form of structure,
management and
success of the
organisation
dependent upon a
range of
situational
variables
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17
Psychological Contract
 Relationship between individual and
organisation.
 Implies series of mutual
expectations and satisfaction of
needs arising from people-
organisation relationship.
 (Individuals’ expectation vs.
Organisation’s expectations)
(Source: Mullins 2016; pg 12-14)
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18
Individuals vs Organisations
Expectations (1)
 Individuals expectations
⚫ Provide safe & hygienic work conditions.
⚫ Reasonable effort to provide job security.
⚫ Provide challenging & satisfying jobs.
⚫ Equitable HR policies.
⚫ Allow staff participation in decisions.
⚫ Implement best practices in equal
employment policies.
⚫ Treat staff with respect.
⚫ Demonstrate understanding & considerate
attitude towards personal problems of
staff.
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(Source: Mullins 2016; pg 12-14)
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 Organisations Expectations
⚫ Accept the ideology of organisation.
⚫ Work diligently in pursuit of
organisational objectives.
⚫ Not abuse goodwill shown by
organisation.
⚫ Uphold image of organisation.
⚫ Show loyalty.
⚫ Not to betray positions of trust.
⚫ Observe reasonable and acceptable
standards of dress & appearance.
Individuals vs Organisations
Expectations (2)
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(Source: Mullins 2016; pg 12-14)
20
Organisational behaviour
Why is OB relevant?
• Individual and social
consequences depend
on how organisations
are designed and run:
⚫ NASA Challenger space
shuttle disaster (1986)
⚫ Exxon Valdez (1989)
⚫ BP ‘Deepwater Horizon’
(2010)
⚫ Volkswagen &
“Emission-gate” (2015)
⚫ Facebook Cambridge-
Analytica Scandal
(2018)
⚫ MAX 737 Boeing (2019)
⚫ COVID 19 Pandemic
Chernobyl nuclear reactor
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21
Summary
 The behaviour of people in work
organisations can be viewed in
terms of multi-related dimensions
relating to:
⚫ Individuals
⚫ The group
⚫ The organisation
⚫ The environment
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