Levels of Organizational Behavior
Organizational behavior deals with the study of human behavior within the organizational setting. It focuses on understanding and explaining human behavior in the workplace and its impact on organizational effectiveness.
Organizational behavior explores how people behave at work and how their actions affect the organization’s success. It is a study that involves examining and analyzing human behavior in an organization for the effective functioning of the organization.
Organizational behavior analyzes the behavior of people on three different levels and they are; individual, group/team, and organizational levels.
Following are the levels of organizational behavior/Scope of organizational behavior (OB):
Individual Level
The individual level focuses on understanding the behavior, attitudes, and actions of individual employees within an organization. The major contributing discipline at this level is psychology.
It explores factors such as personality traits, motivation, perception, learning, and decision-making processes. At this level, the focus is on understanding how individual characteristics and experiences influence behavior and performance in the workplace.
It considers factors like the kind of person someone is, what motivates them, how they see things, how they learn, and how they make decisions. By understanding these aspects, organizations can create a positive work environment that keeps employees happy and motivated.
Managers need to understand the individual’s behavior for predicting and managing employee performance, job satisfaction, and overall well-being for the achievement of organizational goals. The main idea is to understand how each person’s unique qualities and experiences shape how they act and how well they do their job.
Group (Team) Level
A group is a combination of two or more individuals working together to achieve particular objectives. The major contributing disciplines at the group level are sociology, social psychology, and anthropology.
It studies how group composition, communication patterns, leadership styles, group norms, and unity influence the behavior and performance of the group as a whole. Organizations can encourage collaboration and build strong teams.
Group-level organizational behavior also analyzes topics like conflict resolution, decision-making in teams, and the impact of diversity within groups. It is essential for the group to work together for the achievement of specific goals.
By studying how groups work together, managers can improve teamwork, enhance communication, and create a more productive and harmonious work environment for their employees.
Organizational Level
The organizational level of organizational behavior focuses on the overall characteristics and behavior of an organization as a whole. It constitutes both individuals and groups. The major contributing disciplines at this level are sociology, anthropology, and political science.
It looks at how organizational structures, cultures, and systems influence employee behavior, communication, and performance. It is the study of how to manage individuals, groups, or teams effectively in the organization.
This level examines topics such as organizational culture, leadership styles, organizational change, power and politics, organizational structure, and the impact of external factors on the organization’s behavior and performance.
By studying OB, managers can gain insights into how different aspects of a company’s structure, culture, and systems influence employee behavior, communication, and overall performance. They can create a friendly work environment for their employees for the achievement of organizational goals.
Conclusion:
All these three levels are interconnected and influence each other. By studying and analyzing behavior at each level, organizations can gain insights into individual and group dynamics, and their structures and systems, and create a harmonious work environment that promotes job satisfaction and job engagement.
Organizational behavior can understand how individuals and groups function within the organization and make improvements accordingly. This helps to create a positive work environment where employees are happy and productive, leading to the overall success of the organization.