Organizational Behaviour & Design Notes
Subject Overview
Organizational Behaviour & Design covers individual behaviour, learning and emotions, personality/
Subject at a glance
4
Units
28
Topics
4
Credits
4
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — open any unit for detailed topic-wise notes, diagrams and important exam questions
- Meaning and contributing disciplines of OB
- challenges and opportunities
- foundations and determinants of individual behaviour
- learning theories and reinforcement schedules
- behaviour modification
- emotions/moods and emotional intelligence
Continuous
After every correct behaviour
Fast learning, fast extinction
Fixed interval
After a set time
Monthly salary: effort dips after payday
Variable interval
After varying times
Surprise audits: steady effort
Fixed ratio
After a set number of responses
Piece-rate pay
Variable ratio
After a varying number
Sales commissions: highest, most persistent
Study guide
This unit covers OB's contributing disciplines, challenges, individual behaviour, learning theories and reinforcement schedules, behaviour modification, emotions, moods and emotional intelligence. Apply reinforcement to a workplace habit you want to change.
- Determinants of personality
- Myers-Briggs and Big Five models
- attitudes and values
- cognitive dissonance theory
- perception process and attribution theory
- early and contemporary motivation theories
- leadership nature
- theories and styles
- transactional leadership and charisma
Openness
Curious, imaginative
Conscientiousness
Organised, dependable
Extraversion
Sociable, assertive
Agreeableness
Cooperative, warm
Neuroticism
Prone to stress (opposite: emotional stability)
Study guide
You study personality (Myers-Briggs, Big Five), attitudes, values, cognitive dissonance, perception and attribution, motivation theories and leadership theories and styles, including charisma. Compare early and contemporary motivation theories.
- Transactional analysis (ego states, Johari window)
- group formation stages and theories
- types of teams
- group properties (roles, norms, status, cohesiveness)
- stress management
- organizational culture meaning and dimensions
Open area
Known to self and others
Blind spot
Known to others, not to self
Hidden area
Known to self, not to others
Unknown
Known to no one
Study guide
You study transactional analysis, the Johari window, group formation, team types, roles, norms, status, cohesiveness, stress management and organisational culture. Use the Johari window on your own team.
- Organizational theory and life cycle
- organization-environment relationship
- organizational design factors and dimensions (complexity, formalization, centralization)
- traditional and contemporary organizational structures
- conflict management
- learning organizations
- power and politics
Hierarchy
Tall, rigid
Flat, flexible
Formalisation
High: many rules
Low
Decisions
Centralised
Decentralised
Suits
Stable environments
Dynamic, innovative environments
Study guide
You study organisational life cycle, environment, design dimensions (complexity, formalisation, centralisation), structures, conflict, learning organisations, power and politics. Redesign the structure of a company in a short exercise.
Why Organizational Behaviour & Design Matters
OB explains how people and structures shape results, and it prepares you for leadership roles and for HR and consulting careers.
How to Prepare for Organizational Behaviour & Design
- Apply each theory to a real case or your own team.
- Use frameworks (Big Five, Johari) on yourself.
- Practise case analysis with a structured approach.
Organizational Behaviour & Design: Frequently Asked Questions
What is emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand and manage your own emotions and those of others.