Organizations and Organizational Behavior

Ronald F. White, Ph.D.

I. What is an “organization?”

1. Organizational Structure

a. Systems Theory: Systems, Subsystems, and Environment

Borders: Spatial and Temporal Dimensions

Exchange of Energy and/or Information

Input and Output

Open and Closed Systems

Evolutionary Systems

Teleological Systems-Goal Directed (Purposeful)

2. Public Organizations (Local, State, and Federal Government)

3. Private Organizations (Clubs, Businesses etc.)

4. Bureaucracy-

II. What is “Organizational Behavior?”

Descriptive

Prescriptive

III. What is “Good Organizational Behavior?”

IV. What are some of the emerging trends in contemporary organizational behavior?

1. Globalization

2. Changing Workforce

3. Changing Employment Relationships

4. Changing Technology

5. Teams

6. Rise of Business Ethics

IV. Five “anchors” of contemporary organizational behavior.

1. Multidisciplinary Anchor

2. Scientific Method Anchor

3. Contingency Anchor

4. Levels of Analysis Anchor

a. Individuals

b. Groups

c. Organizations

5. Open Systems Anchor

V. The management of Information (Knowledge)

1. Intellectual Capital-

2. Information Management Processes-

3. Information Acquisition-

4. Information Sharing-

5. Information Utilization-

6. Organizational Memory

7. Tradition vs. Innovation

Organizational Leadership

I. Western Liberal Definition of “Leadership.”

1. Non-Coercive Influence

2. Requires Voluntary Followers

3. Goal-Directed- Leaders have a purpose or goal.

4. Leaders vs. Managers

II. Great Person Theory of Leadership

III. Leadership Models

1. Autocratic leaders

2. Democratic leaders

3. Directive leaders

4. Permissive leaders

5. Person Oriented Leaders

6. Production oriented leaders

7. Charismatic leaders

8. Machiavellian leaders

Morality, Organizations, and Leadership

I. Three Possible Views

1. Leadership within Organizations is Subject to Moral Analysis.

2. Leadership Within Organizations is not subject to Moral Analysis.

3. Leadership Within Organizations is Subject to Moral Analysis within the Context of Particular Kinds of Organizational Systems: Families, Communities, Governments, Businesses, Sports Teams, Clubs, Criminal Organizations, Military Organizations, Organized Religions, Colleges and Universities.

II. Moral Systems

1. Teleological Moral Systems-

2. Deontological Moral Systems

3. Virtue-Based Moral Systems

III. Moral Principles

1. Utility-

2. Beneficence-

3. Non-Maleficence

4. Liberty-

5. Justice-

IV. Virtue Ethics: The Ethics of “Character”