Organizational Behaviour Notes
Subject Overview
Organizational Behaviour is where BBA students move from managing tasks to understanding people — how individuals and groups actually behave inside organizations. You'll cover the foundations of individual behaviour and learning theories, then perception, attitude, personality and motivation, group dynamics and leadership, and close with conflict management, stress management, and organizational culture. This is a 6-credit core paper across 4 units, and it's the essential foundation for Human Resource Management and Organizational Change and Development later in the program.
Subject at a glance
4
Units
26
Topics
6
Credits
4
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — open any unit for detailed topic-wise notes, diagrams and important exam questions
- Meaning and relevance of organizational behaviour
- contributing disciplines
- challenges and opportunities for OB
- foundations of individual behaviour
- classical conditioning
- operant conditioning
- social learning theory
- behaviour modification
Classical conditioning
Pairing a stimulus with a response
Bell before lunch makes staff hungry
Operant conditioning
Behaviour shaped by consequences
Bonus for meeting targets
Social learning
Observing and copying others
New hire copies a top performer
Study guide
Organisational behaviour studies how people act at work. You learn its meaning and relevance, contributing disciplines, challenges and opportunities and the foundations of individual behaviour: classical and operant conditioning, social learning and behaviour modification. Explain each learning theory with a workplace example.
- Nature and process of perception
- perceptual errors
- meaning and components of work-related attitude
- determinants and traits of personality
- theories of work motivation (Maslow, Herzberg, McGregor, Vroom, Porter-Lawler)
Examples
Pay, working conditions, policy, security
Achievement, recognition, growth, responsibility
When missing
Cause dissatisfaction
Little motivation
When present
Prevent dissatisfaction only
Create real motivation
Study guide
You study perception and its errors, work attitudes, personality determinants and traits, and theories of motivation (Maslow, Herzberg, McGregor, Vroom and Porter-Lawler). Prepare a comparison chart of the motivation theories.
- Group dynamics
- types and development of groups
- group norms
- roles and cohesiveness
- work teams and effective team creation
- leadership styles
- trait theory and behavioural theories of leadership
- 1Forming
Getting to know each other
- 2Storming
Conflict over roles
- 3Norming
Rules and cohesion develop
- 4Performing
Focused, effective work
- 5Adjourning
Group disbands
Study guide
You study group behaviour: group dynamics, types and development of groups, norms, roles, cohesiveness, work teams and effective team creation, and leadership styles with trait and behavioural theories. Learn the stages of group development (forming, storming, norming, performing).
- Meaning
- types and sources of conflict
- the conflict management process
- sources of stress and stress management approaches
- meaning
- types and dimensions of organizational culture
- 1Potential opposition
Communication, structure, personal factors
- 2Cognition and personalisation
Conflict is felt
- 3Intentions
Compete, collaborate, avoid, accommodate, compromise
- 4Behaviour
Conflict becomes visible
- 5Outcomes
Functional or dysfunctional
Study guide
The last unit covers conflict (types, sources and management), stress (sources and coping), and organisational culture (meaning, types and dimensions). Think of how culture differs between two companies you know.
Why Organizational Behaviour Matters
Employers value people who can work in teams, lead and manage conflict. OB knowledge improves your performance in group projects and interviews, and underpins HR and general management careers.
How to Prepare for Organizational Behaviour
- Observe your own classroom and group projects as OB case studies.
- Learn the theories of motivation and leadership with one example each.
- Practise explaining each concept in simple everyday language.
Organizational Behaviour: Frequently Asked Questions
What are the stages of group development?
Forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning.
What is organisational culture?
It is the shared values, beliefs and practices that shape how people behave in an organisation.