Psychological Dimensions of Organizational Behavior (3rd Edition)

Welcome to the fascinating world of organizational behavior. Here you will learn about the nature of people and how their behavior is influenced by others in organizations. You will study some basics of individual motivation, attitudes, and decision making, and see how these human tendencies can be forged into productive and ethical actions. You will read about how people are influenced by the politics and culture of an organization, and also how people may themselves shape the environment in which they work. Finally, you will study what it takes to be creative in an organizational setting, with tips about how to lead organizations in new and innovative directions. This book is organized into four major dimensions. In each, one or more "foundation" readings are presented in which basic knowledge from the organizational sciences is reviewed. Then "applications" are presented from the literature of organizational behavior. The readings cover most of the major topics in the organizational behavior field and reflect the current state of our knowledge. Some chapters are research summaries; some are think pieces. All have been selected by the combined criteria of writing style and content. Thus, if a piece appears a bit dry, bear with it; it should contain enough content to be worth the effort. If a piece is especially interesting, enjoy the experience. When you finish this anthology, you should not only understand more about how people think and behave, but have some new ideas about how such behavior can be combined to build a productive and healthy organization.Barry M. Staw is the author of 'Psychological Dimensions of Organizational Behavior (3rd Edition)', published 2003 under ISBN 9780130406545 and ISBN 0130406546.