Explain the fundamental concepts of OB
Fundamental Concepts of OB
Like all other discipline/subjects, OB is also based on certain key elements also called Fundamental concepts or assumptions. There are four key elements in OB which are explained below.
People
Organizations are run by people. People consist of individuals and groups. Though people have much in common (they become happy by having gains and sad by losing something valuable), yet they differ from each other. One can find glaring differences in people’s trait, intelligence, personality, etc. Manager cannot adopt one formula or standard across the board for dealing with employees. Manager has to treat employees with individual differences differently. It is because of individual differences, the subject matter of OB begins with individual.
An individual joins organization along with his/her social background, likes and dislikes, pride and prejudices. An individual's family life cannot be separated from organizational life. Therefore, OB studies an individual as a whole person.
Human behaviour is always caused. Behaviour is directed towards some goals. There is always a cause behind every human behaviour or act. For example, when a worker is absent from work, there is a cause behind. The manager must know the cause to solve the problem. People think, feel and react. The manager, therefore, needs to treat them with human dignity, not just as a machine.
Structure
Organizations are social systems. There are two types of social systems that exist side by side in an organization. One is the formal and other is the informal social system. The formal relationship of people in organizations is called structure. Different jobs are required to accomplish the organizational goals and objectives. For example, there are managers, accountants and assemblers. These all people performing different jobs at different levels have to be related in some structural way so that their work can be effectively coordinated.
That people need organizations and organizations also need people. It means that OB is based on mutuality of interest. It is mutual interest that unites people and organization to work in tandem for accomplishing individual and organization goals.
Technology
Technology provides the resources with which people work. It also affects the tasks that they perform. The great benefit of technology is that it allows people to do work in an advanced and efficient manner. However, it also reduces the human impact.
Environment
No organization work in vacuum. They operate within a given internal and external environment. An organization is a part of a larger system that contains other factors or elements, such as a government, the family, and other organizations. This entire factor mutually influences one another in a complex way. Thus, organizations are influenced by the environment. Environment affects people by influencing their attitudes, working conditions, etc. It will not be wrong to mention that an organization is the effect for which environment is the cause. Hence, environment is another key element in the study of OB.
