Unlock document.
This document is partially blurred.
Unlock all pages and 1 million more documents.
Get Access
Questions for Review
1-1. What is the importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace?
Answer: Understanding human behavior is critical for managerial effectiveness today. To
Learning Objective: Demonstrate the importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace
Learning Outcomes: Understanding OB helps determine manager effectiveness; Technical and
AACSB: Written and oral communication
1-2. What is the definition of organizational behavior (OB)?
Answer: Organizational behavior (OB) is a field of study that investigates the impact that
manage individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Learning Objectives: Define organizational behavior (OB)
Learning Outcome: Define organizational behavior
AACSB: Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking
1-3. How does systematic study contribute to our understanding of OB?
Answer: Behavior according to systematic study is not random. There are fundamental
approach that involves basing managerial decisions on the best available scientific
evidence. Intuition, in contrast, is based on one’s “gut feeling.” Although unscientific and
AACSB: Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking
1-4. What are the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB?
Answer: OB is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and
including learning, perception, personality, emotions, training, leadership, motivation, job
satisfaction, decision making, etc. Social psychology blends concepts from both
and their activities within different cultures and environments.
Learning Objective: Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB
AACSB: Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking
1-5. Why are there so few absolutes in OB?
and therefore it is difficult to make many generalizations. Variables such as people’s
AACSB: Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking
1-6. What are the challenges and opportunities for managers in using OB concepts?
Answer: This field of study offers managers specific insights and opportunities to
profitability. Challenges can also be found in critical labor shortages, the fast pace of
change in a world of temporariness, and the need for continuous innovation. Finally,
climate.
Learning Objective: Identify managers’ challenges and opportunities in applying OB concepts
Learning Outcomes: Define organizational behavior and identify the variables associated with its study
1-7. What are the three levels of analysis in our OB model?
Learning Objectives: Compare the three levels of analysis in this text’s OB model
Learning Outcomes: Define organizational behavior and identify the variables associated with its study
AACSB: Analytical thinking
Experiential Exercise
Managing the OB Way
This exercise contributes to:
Learning Objectives: Demonstrate the importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace; Define organizational
behavior (OB); Show the value to OB of systematic study; Demonstrate why few absolutes apply to OB; Identify
managers’ challenges and opportunities in applying OB concepts
Learning Outcomes: Define organizational behavior and identify the variables associated with its study; Describe
the factors that influence the formation of individual attitudes and values; Apply the study of perception and
attribution to the workplace; Define diversity and describe the effects of diversity in the workforce; Describe the
nature of conflict and the negotiation process; Describe best practices for creating and sustaining organizational
cultures; Describe the components of human resource practices
AACSB: Written and oral communication; Ethical understanding and reasoning; Analytical thinking; Diverse and
multicultural work environments; Reflective thinking
After class members have formed groups of approximately four members each, each group
should consider the following scenario:
You will assume the role of a special committee of district managers at a large pharmaceutical
company. Your committee will be meeting to discuss some problems. The process set up by the
committee is as follows:
independent ideas for what might be done.
2. At the start of the meeting, each member should spend one minute addressing the group.
During the meeting, the committee must reach a consensus on both the best solution and
with a little more than a year’s experience and an average (but declining) sales record, has
grown a very long and ragged beard that detracts significantly from his appearance. His
with his individual freedom.
There have been numerous complaints about Tom’s appearance from both doctors and
pharmacists. The manager has talked to him on many occasions about the impact his
they were last year.
When the groups have reached their consensus decisions, the following questions can serve as
the basis for class discussion:
they care about his appearance?
1-9. What was your group’s consensus decision regarding the issue with Tom’s facial hair?
1-10. Let’s say Tom told you he thinks the beard is part of his personal religion that he is
forming. Do you think that announcement would change how you talk to Tom about the
issue?
Teaching Notes
potential success of each approach.
This exercise is applicable to face-to-face classes or synchronous online classes such as
BlackBoard 9.1, WIMBA, and Second Life Virtual Classrooms. See
(http://www.wimba.com/solutions/higher-education/wimba_classroom_for_higher_education),
(http://go.secondlife.com/landing/education/) and
(http://docplayer.net/19442732-Effective-use-of-collaboration-tools-for-online-learning-jennifer-pontano-ke-anna-sk
ipwith-drexel-university-e-learning-2-0-conference-march-2011.html) for more information.
Ethical Dilemma
There’s a Drone in Your Soup
This exercise contributes to:
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning; Analytical thinking
It is the year 2020, and drones are everywhere. Alibaba quadcopters have been delivering
special ginger tea to customers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou for years; Amazon’s
octocopters finally deliver packages in most major cities within 30 minutes without knocking
That’s all about to change.
You work for a multinational technology corporation on a sprawling, 25-acre headquarters
campus, with offices in 2 million sqaure feet of interior space in one large building and four
additional smaller (but still large) buildings. The official Head of Interior Spaces is your boss;
you’re the leader of the Consideration of New Things team. In a meeting with your team, your
camera, a speaker, and a recorder.”
Your team expresses surprise; no one even knew an inside utility drone was under development,
and governments worldwide are still haggling over regulations for drones. Your boss goes on
enthusiastically, “I’ve seen the little drones, and I think you’ll be impressed – not only can they
scoot across the quad, but they can fetch things off tables, grab me a latte, attend meetings for
“Sounds, uh, great,” you reply. “But how about the team takes the afternoon to set the ground
rules?”
Questions
1-11. How might the R2D2 drones influence employee behavior? Do you think they will cause
to misbehave. However, many students will be concerned that the drones could facilitate
1-12. Who should get the drones initially? How can you justify your decision ethically? What
perspective. Students should recognize that a key issue in the situation is the inability to
1-13. How will your organization deal with sabotage or misuse of drones? The value of an
R2D2 drone is $2,500.
impossible.
1-14. Many organizations already use electronic monitoring of employees, including sifting
through website usage and e-mail correspondence, often without the employee’s direct
knowledge. In what ways might drone monitoring be better or worse for employees than
covert electronic monitoring of Web or e-mail activity?
Case Incident 1
Apple Goes Global
This exercise contributes to:
cultures; Describe the components of human resource practices
AACSB: Written and oral communication; Analytical thinking; Reflective thinking; Diverse and multicultural work
environments
It wasn’t long ago that products from Apple, perhaps the most recognizable name in electronics
At first glance, the transfer of jobs from one workforce to another would seem to hinge on a
difference in wages, but Apple shows this is an oversimplification. In fact, paying U.S. wages
would add only $65 to each iPhone’s expense, while Apple’s profits average hundreds of dollars
per phone. Rather, and of more concern, Apple’s leaders believe the intrinsic characteristics of
Because Apple is one of the most imitated companies in the world, this perception of an overseas
advantage might suggest that the U.S. workforce needs to be better led, better trained, more
effectively managed, and more motivated to be proactive and flexible. If U.S. and Western
European workers are less motivated and less adaptable, it’s hard to imagine that does not spell
we can’t forget that Apple posted $16.1 billion in revenue from the first quarter of 2014, perhaps
in part because its manufacturing in China builds support for the brand there.
As makers of some of the most cutting-edge, revered products in the electronics marketplace,
perhaps Apple serves not as a failure of one country to hold onto a company completely, but as
Threatens $30 Billion Global Supplier Web,” Bloomberg,
www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-18/apple-slowdown-threatens-30-billion-global-supplierweb-
tech.html.
Questions
1-15. What are the pros and cons for local and overseas labor forces of Apple’s going global? What are
the potential political implications for country relationships?
with product development could benefit if Apple’s products continue to be in high
demand. While the ‘export of jobs’ can create tension between China and the United
1-16. Do you think Apple is justified in drawing the observations and conclusions expressed in the
case? Why or why not? Do you think it is good or harmful to the company that its executives
have voiced these opinions?
1-17.How could managers use increased worker flexibility and diligence to increase the
competitiveness of their manufacturing sites? What would you recommend?
Case Incident 2
Big Data for Dummies
This exercise contributes to:
Learning Objectives: Define organizational behavior (OB); Show the value to OB of systematic study; Demonstrate
resource practices
AACSB: Analytic thinking; Reflective thinking
Do you need big data? Maybe the question is better phrased as: Can you afford not to use big
data? The age of big data is here, and to ignore its benefits is to run the risk of missed
opportunities.
access to useful data significantly increased in a year?
According to Amy Braverman, a principal statistician who analyzes NASA’s spacecraft data, the
problem is in interpreting the new kinds and volumes of data we are able to collect. “This
opportunistic data collection is leading to entirely new kinds of data that aren’t well suited to
big data.
With strong need combating the high hurdle for usability, how should a company get started
using big data? The quick answer seems to be to hire talent. But not just anyone will do. Here
are some points to ponder when hiring data professionals:
1. Look for candidates with a strong educational background in analytics/statistics.
data.
2. The ideal candidates will have specific experience in your industry or a related
at Ernst & Young.
advanced in big data.
4. Communication skills are a must. Look for a candidate “who can translate Ph.D. to
people to find.”
5. Find candidates with a proven record of finding useful information from a mess of
and discerning.
data projects have a short-term focus.
7. Test candidates’ expertise on real problems. Netflix’s Director of Algorithms asks
this particular problem?”
Sources: M. Taes, “If I Could Have More Data…,” The Wall Street Journal, March 24, 2014, R5; S. Thurm, “It’s a Whole
Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2014, B7.
Questions
1-18. Let’s say you work in a metropolitan city for a large department store chain and your
manager puts you in charge of a team to find out whether keeping the store open an hour
longer each day would increase profits. What data might be available to your
decision-making process? What data would be important to your decision?
Answer: Relevant internally-generated variables would include number of customers in
the store prior to closing, sales levels prior to closing, and so on. Data along these lines is
probably readily available to companies that track sales. Managers would also probably
consider external variables such as the opening hours of competitors or access to public
transportation if the store is in an urban area.
1-19. What kinds of data might we want in OB applications?
1-20. As Braverman notes, one problem with big data is making sense of the information. How
might a better understanding of psychology help you sift through all this data?
to whether similar numbers could be expected in the future or whether
they might take a diLerent path.
My Lab Management
following Assisted-graded writing questions:
1-21. You have read the chapter and Case Incident 1, and let’s say that you are now an Apple
recommend?
1-22. In relation to Case Incident 2, why do you think it is important to have educated,
experienced statisticians on any team that is using big data for decision making? What
might be the consequences of hiring someone with less experience?
1-23. MyLab Management only—comprehensive writing assignment for this chapter.
Instructor’s Choice
Companies Dealing with OB Issues
This exercise contributes to:
nature of conflict and the negotiation process; Describe best practices for creating and sustaining organizational
cultures; Describe the components of human resource practices
AACSB: Written and oral communication; Ethical understanding and reasoning; Analytical thinking; Information
technology; Diverse and multicultural work environments; Reflective thinking
under increasing criticism for its manufacturing practices in Vietnam. Have students see how the
company explains its current practices and relationships with foreign contractors.
Exploring OB Topics on the Web
This exercise contributes to:
applying OB concepts
Learning Outcomes: Define organizational behavior and identify the variables associated with its study; Describe
the factors that influence the formation of individual attitudes and values; Apply the study of perception and
attribution to the workplace; Define diversity and describe the effects of diversity in the workforce; Describe the
nature of conflict and the negotiation process; Describe best practices for creating and sustaining organizational
the Search Engine Watch home page, click on Search Engine Listings, then on Major Search
Engines. This page presents an overview of the major engines and how best to use them. Do not
forget to look at other topics on this website that are interesting to you.
Now perform a search on “Organizational Behavior” using three different search engines. Do the
choose one search engine over another.
1. The text tells us that OB replaces intuition with systematic study. Where do scholars prepare
for a career researching OB topics? Additionally, what if you decide at some point to pursue
programs. If you need ideas as to where to start, try:
a. Harvard: http://www.hbs.edu/units/ob/index.html
Management: http://www.obweb.org/
If time allows, discuss as a class the information you found on the general areas of study and
the types of courses required in graduate work in OB.
2. One of the challenges facing managers is the fact that organizations are no longer constrained
by national borders.
note the ones you missed.
b. Choose one of the topics and, on a separate paper, write three questions you have on the
topic. Click on the topics or links on the SHRM homepage and try to find the answers. If
3. Many organizations look for ways to promote diversity through family-friendly policies.
Look for three companies that are incorporating family-friendly policies into their HRM
b. What are their policies?
c. How do these policies attract and keep people?
d. Do these policies interest you? Why?
4. Find an organization that directly addresses the cost of absenteeism or turnover on its
website. What, if anything, is that organization doing to reduce those costs? What did your
organization’s strategy to the group and possibly the class. Below are some websites to get
you started, but do not hesitate to perform your own search:
a. www.shrm.org
b. http://www.jointventure.org
c. http://eafinc.org
