Studying Human Behavior In An Organization

Work for people in all ages and in all societies has been much more than a matter of simply providing the material requirements of life. It has also played a major part in giving meaning to people's lives and has helped them achieve a sense of identity. This means that problems of work and work organization are ones which go to the heart of the problems of 'being human'. Mullins (2010) upholds the fact that people are the main resource of any organization. Without its members, an organization is nothing; an organization is only as good as the people who work within it. In today’s increasingly dynamic, global and competitive environment an understanding of the effective management of the people resource is even more important for organizational survival and success.

As such, organizational behavior is concerned with the study of the behavior of people within an organization. Kondalkar (2007) also underscores that the study is related to individuals, groups of people working together in teams. The study involves the understanding, prediction and control of human behavior. Common definitions of organizational behavior (OB) are generally along the lines of: the study and understanding of individual and group behavior and patterns of structure in order to help improve organizational performance and effectiveness. Theories concerning organizational behavior have evolved over the decades. The study of organizational behavior cannot be undertaken entirely in terms of a single discipline. It is necessary to provide a multidisciplinary, behavioral science perspective. He continues to say that the study of behavior can be viewed in terms of three main disciplines – psychology, sociology and anthropology. All three disciplines have made an important contribution to the field of organizational behavior.

Psychologists are concerned, broadly speaking, with the study of human behavior, with traits of the individual and membership of small social groups. The main focus of attention is on the individual as a whole person, or what can be termed the ‘personality system’, including, for example, perception, attitudes and motives.

Sociologists are more concerned with the study of social behavior, relationships among social groups and societies, and the maintenance of order. The main focus of attention is on the analysis of social structures and positions in those structures – for example, the relationship between the behavior of leaders and followers.

Anthropologists are more concerned with the science of humankind and the study of human behavior as a whole. As far as organizational behavior is concerned the main focus of attention is on the cultural system, the beliefs, customs, ideas and values within a group or society, and the comparison of behavior among different cultures – for example, the importance to Muslim women of wearing trousers to work. People learn to depend on their culture to give them security and stability and they can suffer adverse reactions to unfamiliar environments.

In his contribution to the literature of the study of human behavior Watson (2013) says that this study is not that simple a matter. In his writing he said that all we can do is to work at developing concepts, frameworks and knowledge which can make all this complexity just a little bit more manageable. It should however be noted that the behavior of people at work cannot be studied in isolation. It is necessary to understand interrelationships with other variables that together comprise the total organization. This involves consideration of interactions among the aims and objectives of the organization, formal structure, the tasks to be undertaken, the technology employed and methods of carrying out work, the process of management and the external environment.

The bottom line is that sooner or later every organization has to perform successfully if it is to survive. Mullins (2010) further says that the study of organizational behavior embraces, therefore, an understanding of:

• the nature and purpose of the organization;
• the human element and behavior of people;
• business strategy, organizational processes and the execution of work;
• the process of management as an integrating and coordinating activity;
• social responsibilities and business ethics;
• the external environment of which the organization is part;
• the need for organization success and survival.