Organizational Behavior

Catalog description

Individual and group behavior in organizations' motivation, performance, rewards, satisfaction, decision processes, conflict; job and organizational design; structure and culture. The field of organizational behavior is intended to further our understanding of human behavior in work and organizational contexts. The field draws upon research emanating from any social science discipline (e.g., psychology, social psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc.) that might offer insight as to how individuals and groups function effectively within work contexts. The overall goal is 1) to explore how individuals' work experience can be made more satisfying and personally fulfilling to them, and 2) to explore how organizations can manage and shape human behavior in ways that optimize organizational effectiveness and organizational goal accomplishment. Particular emphasis is placed upon the study of individual and group-level dynamics within organizations, including topics such as motivation, individual differences, ethics, emotional intelligence, group dynamics, decision-making, stress, power and politics, leadership, and organizational culture and structure.