Organizational behavior can be viewed from different perspectives or levels of analysis. At one level, the organization can be viewed as consisting of individuals working on tasks in the pursuit of the Organizational goals. A second level of analysis focuses upon the interaction among Organizational members as they work in' teams, groups and departments. Finally, Organizational behavior can be analyzed from the perspective of the organization as a whole.
- Organization at the Individual
Level: Organizational behavior can be studied in the perspective of
individual members of the organization. This approach to Organizational
behavior draws heavily on the discipline of psychology and explains why
individuals behave and react the way they do to different Organizational
policies, practices and procedures. Within this perspective,
psychologically based theories of learning, motivation, satisfaction and
leadership are brought to bear upon the behavior and performance of
individual members of an organization. Factors such as attitudes, beliefs,
perceptions and personalities are taken into account and their impact upon
individuals’ behavior and performance on the job is studied.
- Organization at the Group Level: People rarely work independently
in organizations; they have to necessarily work in coordination to meet
the Organizational goals. This frequently results in people working
together in teams, committees and groups. How do people work together in
groups? What factors determine whether group will be cohesive and
productive? What types of tasks could be assigned to groups? These are
some of the questions that can be asked about the effective functioning of
groups in organizations. An important component of Organizational behavior
involves the application of knowledge and theories from social psychology
to the study of groups in organizations.
- Organization at the Organizational
Level: Some Organizational behavior researchers take the
organization as a whole as their object of study. This j macro perspective
on Organizational behavior draws heavily on theories and concepts from the
discipline of 'sociology'. Researchers seek to understand the implications
of the relationship between the organization and its environment for the
effectiveness of the organization. Emphasis is placed upon understanding
how Organizational structure and design influences the effectiveness of an
organization. Other factors such as the technology employed by the
organization, the size of the organization and the organization's age are
also examined and their implications for effective Organizational
functioning are explored.
These different perspectives on the
study of Organizational behavior are not in conflict with one another. Instead
they are complementary. A full and complete understanding of the nature of
organizations and the determinants of their effectiveness requires a blending
of knowledge derived from each perspective.