Northwest Missouri State University’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) General program features a compelling course for all current and future managers. The Organizational Behavior in Administration course covers various behavioral concepts found in organizational settings with implications for management personnel. The course emphasizes the practical application of various topics such as teamwork, leadership, motivation, organizational change and development.
Organizational Behavior and Leadership Development
Why is this course essential to a general MBA program and the development of leaders who work in a diverse array of managerial roles? Managers must understand why people behave as they do within organizations. They do this by first appreciating the complex nature of individuals and second by identifying causes and effects of individual behaviors. The collective behaviors of individuals within an organization create an atmosphere that strongly influences business performance, for better or worse.
An organization benefits in numerous ways when managers have a strong foundation in organizational behavior, for example:
- Managers understand the organizational impacts of individual and group behaviors.
- Managers are more effective in motivating their subordinates.
- Relationships improve between management and employees.
- Managers can better predict, control and influence employee behavior.
- The organization can optimize the efficient use of human resources.
What Abilities Does This Discipline Give Managers?
By studying the principles of organizational behavior, managers become adept at the following five key skills:
- Identify and promote positive behaviors: Prosocial behaviors within an organization are those which benefit other individuals and the company as a whole. Leaders at every level of the organization need to be able to identify, promote and reward these behaviors — and conversely, to discourage behaviors that lead to mistrust and other poor interpersonal dynamics between people who must work together.
- Create a positive workplace culture: Individual prosocial behaviors do not necessarily occur naturally. New hires do not come into organizations with a mental makeup optimized for the organizational culture and success of their companies. They must first be incentivized, in part through rewards, recognition, perks and bonuses. The right incentives are the building blocks of a supportive and selfless workplace culture.
- Motivate employees to exhibit prosocial behaviors: This discipline offers a set of motivational tools for managers to use, which takes into account individual differences among employees. Effectively, this skill constitutes applied psychology and sociology for managers.
- Identify the causes of antisocial behaviors: Toxic behaviors that can infect a department and spread throughout an organization may originate with individuals; come from the top down; or even be the result of external or internal influences. A manager with expertise in organizational behavior is able to find the root causes of negative behaviors and develop plans to solve the identified problems.
- Assess likely employee response before initiating organizational change: Predictive capabilities are among the most important for managers and become even more important as leaders work their way up in the organizational structure. In order to determine the right strategies and implement them successfully, leaders at every level must be able to accurately anticipate how employees will react. Then, leaders must work to develop contingencies. The study of organizational behavior enables this predictive capability.
Often, when organizations go through inevitable slumps or downturns, they bring in experts in organizational behavior for guidance. This practice exemplifies the importance of learning the fundamental concepts in this discipline.
Learn more about Northwest’s online MBA General program.
