Organisantional Behaviour

...

8. (p. 9) Which of the following is an example of a firm's resources related to organizational behavior? A. EquityB. TechnologyC. BuildingsD. MachinesE. Ability

Discussion questions

Scenario: Ben BarrackAs a student, you have been attending the local university majoring in business. You have signed up for this course on organizational behavior. You are also working as an assistant manager at a local restaurant where Ben Barrack is the manager. When Ben finds that you are enrolled in an OB course, he laughs and says OB is common sense, you do not need a course on it and that if you take strategic management, it gives you the same information. Ben comments that the only thing he needs to worry about is the job performance of his employees. Having just studied this chapter, respond to the following questions and Ben's comments and beliefs.

9. (p. 6) Ben suggested that he only needs to worry about the job performance of his employees. After learning about the integrative model of OB, you might explain that there is one other key outcome that he should worry about: A. organizational commitment.B. self-actualization.C. relatedness needs.D. downsizing practicality.E. individual personalities.

10. (p. 7) You should tell Ben that according to the integrative model of OB, the following two concepts represent individual mechanisms that have a direct impact on job performance. A. Stress and motivationB. Personality and abilityC. Team processes and team characteristicsD. Leadership styles and behaviorsE. Organizational culture and organizational structure

Essay Questions

11. (p. 10-11) Using the resource-based view of the organization, explain how people are a valuable resource. Provide an example to justify your position.

People are rare and inimitable. The inimitability of people can be described using the following three reasons: history, numerous small decisions, and socially complex resources. See figure 1-2 in the text. Students' answers will vary for the last part of the question.

12. (p. 14) Briefly describe the four different ways of knowing things. Which way do you believe provides the soundest rationale and most compelling support?

The four ways of knowing things are: Method of experience: People hold firmly to some belief because it is consistent with their own experience and observations. Method of intuition: People hold firmly to some belief because it "just stands to reason"—it seems obvious or self-evident. Method of authority: People hold firmly to some belief because some respected official, agency, or source has said it is so. Method of science: People accept some belief because scientific studies have tended to replicate that result using a series of samples, settings, and methods. The method of science provides the soundest rationale and most compelling support for arguments given that predictions are tested with data.