Management Principles and Organizational Behaviour Notes
Subject Overview
The opening paper of the M.Com program builds the management foundation the rest of the degree assumes — the evolution of management thought from Taylor and Fayol through Maslow and McGregor, planning and MBO, decision-making and organizing (structure, delegation, centralization/
Subject at a glance
4
Units
47
Topics
4
Credits
4
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — open any unit for detailed topic-wise notes, diagrams and important exam questions
- Definition
- nature
- scope and functions of management
- managerial roles and skills
- evolution of management thought (classical, neo-classical, quantitative, behavioural, systems, contingency approaches)
- contributions of Taylor
- Fayol
- Follett
- Barnard
- Weber
- Drucker
- the Gilbreths
- Gantt
- Maslow
- Herzberg and McGregor
- planning importance/types/process
- business forecasting
- MBO
Classical
Taylor, Fayol, Weber: efficiency and structure
Neo-classical
Mayo, Follett: human relations
Quantitative
Models, operations research
Behavioural
Maslow, McGregor, Herzberg
Systems
Organisation as interrelated parts
Contingency
Best approach depends on the situation
Study guide
This unit surveys management at postgraduate depth: definitions, nature, scope and functions, managerial roles, and the evolution of thought from classical to contingency approaches with the contributions of Taylor, Fayol, Follett, Barnard, Weber, Drucker, the Gilbreths, Gantt, Maslow, Herzberg and McGregor, plus planning and MBO. Build a timeline of management thinkers with one key idea each.
- Decision-making importance
- types
- steps
- approaches and decision trees
- concept and process of organizing
- formal vs informal organization
- organizational structure types and bases of departmentalization
- delegation and its effectiveness
- centralization and decentralization
- control concept
- characteristics
- process
- types and techniques
- 1Set standards
Targets and benchmarks
- 2Measure performance
- 3Compare with standards
Find deviations
- 4Take corrective action
Study guide
You study decision making (types, steps, approaches, decision trees), organising (formal and informal organisation, structure, departmentalisation, delegation, centralisation) and control (process, types, techniques). Apply decision trees to a simple business choice.
- Concepts
- determinants
- challenges and contributing disciplines of organizational behaviour
- determinants of individual behaviour (personality, perception, values, attitudes, learning)
- motivation concept and early theories and applications
- leadership concept and theories (trait, behavioural, transactional and transformational)
Basis
Exchange of rewards for performance
Inspiring vision and values
Focus
Tasks, rules, short-term goals
Change, growth, long-term goals
Motivates by
Rewards and penalties
Inspiration and individual attention
Suits
Stable routine work
Change and innovation
Study guide
You study organisational behaviour: its determinants and challenges, individual behaviour (personality, perception, values, attitudes, learning), motivation theories and leadership theories (trait, behavioural, transactional, transformational). Compare transactional and transformational leadership with real leaders.
- Nature and stages of group formation
- theories of group formation
- group properties
- individual vs group decision making
- conflict definition and process
- functional vs dysfunctional conflict
- conflict management
- power and politics in organizations
- organizational change and development — change agents
- models and resistance to change
Effect
Improves group performance
Hinders group performance
Typical form
Task conflict over ideas
Relationship conflict, hostility
Outcome
Better decisions, innovation
Poor communication, lower cohesion
Study guide
You study groups (stages, theories, properties), individual versus group decision making, conflict and its management, power and politics and organisational change and development with change agents, models and resistance. Link change models to a real organisational change.
Why Management Principles and Organizational Behaviour Matters
Management and OB are the common ground of every business role, and they feature in UGC-NET Commerce and management exams. Understanding people and organisations is what makes technical expertise effective.
How to Prepare for Management Principles and Organizational Behaviour
- Prepare a thinkers-and-contributions table for the management schools.
- Apply OB theories to real workplace situations you have seen.
- Practise structured answers with a definition, explanation and example.
Management Principles and Organizational Behaviour: Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the key contributors to management thought?
Taylor (scientific management), Fayol (administrative principles), Weber (bureaucracy), Follett, Barnard, Drucker and the behavioural contributors such as Maslow, Herzberg and McGregor.
What is the difference between transactional and transformational leadership?
Transactional leaders motivate through rewards and corrections within existing systems, while transformational leaders inspire followers to go beyond self-interest and drive change.