Lesson 1

ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR

Human Behavior
Any act of an individual person which is considered human behavior is a
reflection of his thoughts, feelings, emotions, sentiments whether conscious
or not.
It mirrors his needs, values, motivation, aspirations, conflicts and state of life.
Also called as human act which is different from Act of Man
Human Act Are those performed by a person who is acting
knowingly, freely and wilfully (when the doer consents to the acts,
accepting it as his own, assumes accountability for its
consequences)
When man/person performs an act with free will; he is responsible
for such act which is performed with alternatives to choose from.
Act of man are physiological and psychological movements.
- Is a legal term used to describe acts performed by an
individual of sound mind.
Behavior
Consist of all human activities.
Human behavior occurs anywhere and everywhere.
At home
In school
In the work setting
In church
In a social clubs
In a professional organization
Organization
Are social systems consisting of two or more people working towards a
common goal.
It is also a complex system.
Reasons for studying Human Behavior
In order to have an understanding of the actions of people.
The need to understand the behavior of others, especially those we come in
contact with, and the need to anticipate and predict how others may act in
certain situation are important since we are affected by their actions.
It provide data and information which may be needed for improved
productivity, for rational decision and policy making, for better planning and
organizing personnel and human resources recruitment, screening, selection,
promotion and development .
We look not only into the personality of others but into our own personalities
as well.
To know the reason why we think, feel, act, speak and talk in certain ways.
Organizational Behavior

The study and application of knowledge about how people as individuals and
as groups act and behave within the organization.
It strives to identify ways in which people act more effectively.
Provides a useful set of tools at many levels of analysis to help managers look
at the behavior of individuals within the environment.

Lesson 1
ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR

It also aids them in their understanding of the complexities which affect the
interpersonal relations of the people as they interact.

Goals of Organizational Behavior

1. To describe how people behave as they interact with one another.
2. To understand why people behave in varied manners.
3. To predict to predict the future employee behavior so that an appropriate
course of action maybe employed.
4. To control for the manager to develop human activity at work.
Four forces or elements affecting Organizational Behavior
1. People make up the internal social system in an organization; the system
consists of individual and groups, large or small, with different values and
orientation. Organizations exist to serve people; people do not exist to serve
organizations.
2. Structure defines the formal relationships and use of human resources in
an organization. People have to be related in some structural way so that
their tasks can be effectively coordinated.
3. Technology technology has a tremendous influence on working
relationships. It provides the resources with which people work and affect the
tasks they perform.
o The great benefit of technology is that it allows workers to perform
much better work.
4. Environment All organization operates within an internal and external
environment.
Basic concept of organizational system and human behavior
1. Individual differences a person is a distinct individual; he is unique and
different
from others.
2. Perception is the act of faculty apprehending by means of the sense or of
the mind.
3. Whole person when a person joins an organization, he is hired not only
because of his brains but, as a whole, person possessed with certain
characteristics.
4. Motivated person this may be as a result of a normal behavior that has
certain causes and these may relate to an individuals need.

5. Desire for involvement every person wishes to feel good himself. This
personal human desire is reflected in his drive for self-efficacy.
6. Value of persons People want to be given preferential value for their skills
and abilities with opportunities for their development.
Organizations and Social System
Organizations are social systems for they are organized on the basis of
mutual interest.
Ex: Employer and worker relationship.
Social system
A complex set of human relationships interacting in many and different
ways.
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ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR

His behavior is influenced by the group he belongs to and by his

personal drives and aspirations.
Mutual interest
Organization needs people and people also need organization.
Mutual interest provides super ordinate goals for employees, for the
organization and for society.
Ethics
It is a system of moral principles.
The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of
human actions or a particular group.
Four basic approaches in organizational behavior
1. Human Resources Approach
The philosophy of this approach is developmental.
Specifically designed and concerned with the growth and
development of people in order to achieve higher levels of
competency, creativity, and fulfilment.
In order for this approach to be successful, employers should be
more responsible by creating an organizational climate
conducive for all members.
Under this approach, the managers role changes from control of
employees to active support of their organizational growth and
development.
2. Contingency Approach
The strength of this approach is that it encourages a thorough
analysis of every situation prior to action and at the same time,
discourages virtually habitual practice based on universal
assumptions about people.
Many management experts and practitioners perceived that
there is no longer one best way.

This approach is also more interdisciplinary, more systemoriented and more research-oriented than the traditional
approach.

3. Result-oriented Approach
All organization whether political, social, economic or religious,
needs to
accomplish desirable results.
The principal objective for organizations to survive is to produce
the necessary output.
Productivity is measured in terms of economic inputs and
outputs.
Better organizational behavior can naturally improve job
satisfaction.
4. System Approach
This approach is a type of behavioural approach in which the
manager takes a holistic perspective of the whole subject.
Holistic organizational behavior interprets people-organization
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ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR
relationships in terms of the whole person, whole group, whole
organization and whole social system in its total cooperative effort to
understand as many of the intervening factors as possible that affects
an individuals behavior in the work environment.
Existing problems are analyzed in relation to the total condition
affecting the entire organization rather than treating the
problem in an isolated case.
Characteristic of a Healthy Organization
1. Objectives are so widely shared by the members and there is a strong and
consistent flow of energy towards those objectives
2. People feel free to signal their awareness of difficulties because they expect
the problems to be dealt with they are optimistic that these problems can be
solved.
3. Problem solving is highly pragmatic. In attacking the problems, people work
informally and are not pre-occupied with status, territory, or second guessing
what higher management will think, A great deal of non-conforming
behavior is tolerated.
4. Collaboration is freely entered into. People readily request the help of others
and are willing to give in turn.
5. When there is a crisis, the people quickly band together in work until the
crisis departs.
6. Conflicts are considered important to decision making and personal growth.
They are dealt effectively, in the open, People say what they want and expect
others to do the same.

7. There is a great deal of on-the-job learning based in the willingness to give,

seek and use feedback and advice. People see themselves and others as
capable of significant personal growth and development.
8. Relationships are honest. People do care about one another and do not feel
alone.
9. People are turned on and highly involved by choice. They are optimistic. The
work place is important and fun.
10.Leadership is flexible, shifting in style and person to suit the situation.
11.There is a high degree of trust among people and a sense of freedom and
mutual responsibility. People generally know what is important to the
organization and what is not.
12.Risk is accepted as a condition of growth and change.
13.What can we learn from each mistake?
14.Poor performance is confronted, and a joint resolution is sought.
15.Organizational structure, procedures and policies are fashioned to help
people get the job done and to protect the long term health of the
organization, not to give each bureaucrat his due. These procedures are
readily changed.
16.There is a sense of order, and yet a high rate of innovation. Old methods are
questioned and often give way to new ones.
Characteristics of an Unhealthy Organization
1. Little personal investment in organizational objectives except at top levels.
2. People in the organization see things going wrong and do nothing about it.
Nobody volunteers. Mistakes and problems are habitually hidden or shelved.
People treat each other in a formal and polite manner that masks issues
especially with the boss.
3. People at the top try to control as many decisions as possible.
4. Managers feel alone in trying to get things done.
5. Personal needs and feelings are side issues.
6. People compete when they need to collaborate.
7. When there is a crisis, people withdraw or start blaming one another
8. Learning is difficult.
9. Feedback is avoided.
10.Relationship is contaminated by marksmanship and image building.
11.People feel locked into their jobs.
12.The manager is a prescribing father to the organization.
13.The manager allows little freedom.
14.One mistake and youre out.
15.Traditional.
16.Innovation is not widespread but in the hands of a few.
17.People swallow their frustrations.