Page 12 - eBOOK ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOUR FULL REPORT (eISBN)

a) Psychology

Psychology’s contributions have been mainly at the individual or micro level of analysis,

while the other disciplines have contributed to our understanding of macro concepts such

as group processes and organization.
Early organizational psychologists studied the problems of fatigue, boredom, and other

working conditions that could impede efficient work performance. More recently, their

contributions have expanded to include learning, perception, personality, emotions,
training, leadership effectiveness, needs and motivational forces, job satisfaction,

decision-making processes, performance appraisals, attitude measurement, employee-

selection techniques, work design, and job stress.

b) Social Psychology
Generally considered a branch of psychology, blends concepts from both psychology and

sociology to focus on peoples’ influence on one another. One major study area is change

- how to implement it and how to reduce barriers to its acceptance. Social psychologists
also contribute to measuring, understanding, and changing attitudes; identifying

communication patterns; and building trust. Finally, they have made important

contributions to the study of group behavior, power and conflict.

c) Sociology
While psychology focuses on the individual, sociology studies people in relation to their

social environment or culture. Sociologists have contributed to OB through their study of

group behavior in organizations, particularly formal and complex organizations. Perhaps
most important, sociologists have studied organizational culture, formal organization

theory and structure, organizational technology, communications, power and conflict.

d) Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of societies to learn about human beings and their activities.
Anthropologists’ work on cultures and environments has helped us understand

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