Understanding Organization: Individual Differences, Job Satisfaction, Motivation, and More

Organization

Organization is a consciously coordinated social unit, made up of a group of people who work together on common goals on a relatively continuous basis.

1. Individual Differences

People enter groups and organizations with certain characteristics that influence behavior. Perception, Values, Attitudes

2. Job Satisfaction

3. Motivation

4. Empowerment:

Means putting employees in charge of what they do – give them responsibility.

5. Behaving Ethically

Perception

(“the perceiver”) look at a target and attempt to interpret what you see: attitudes, personality, motives, interests, past experiences, and expectations

The target’s characteristics can affect what we perceive: Novelty, motion, sound, size, background, proximity.

The situation: The context in which you see objects or events is important: time, work setting, social setting.

1. Attribution Theory

Explains how we judge people differently.

When The cause is internal Individual is responsible for behavior (they choose to do it)

The cause is external: Something outside the individual caused the behavior (they have no control over their actions – forced into the behavior)

2. Selective Perception:

People selectively interpret what they see based on their interests, background, experience, and attitudes.

3. Halo Effect:

Drawing a general impression about an individual based on a single characteristic, such as intelligence, likability, or appearance.

4. Contrast Effects:

A person’s evaluation is affected by comparisons with other individuals recently encountered.

5. Projection:

Attributing one’s own characteristics to other people. Sometimes called “similar-to-me” effect.

6. Stereotyping:

Judging someone on the basis of your perception of the group to which that person belongs. (judgment shortcuts in decision making). Prejudice - An unfounded dislike of a person or group based on their belonging to a particular stereotyped group.

5 personality model

– Extraversion: A personality factor that describes the degree to which someone is sociable, talkative, and assertive.

– Agreeableness: A personality factor that describes the degree to which someone is good-natured, cooperative, warm, and trusting.

– Conscientiousness: A personality factor that describes the degree to which someone is responsible, dependable, persistent, and achievement-oriented.

– Emotional Stability: A personality dimension that characterizes someone as calm, self-confident, secure (positive) vs. nervous, depressed, and insecure (negative).

– Openness to Experience: A personality factor that describes the degree to which someone is imaginative, artistically sensitive, and curious.

Emotion definition 3 levels

• Affect: Generic term that covers a broad range of feelings people experience, including emotions and moods.

• Emotions: Intense feelings that are directed at someone or something.

• Moods: Feelings that tend to be less intense than emotions and that lack a contextual stimulus.

7 moral principles

DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE. The lives of people are to be respected.

AUTONOMY. All persons are intrinsically valuable and have the right to self-determination.

HONESTY. The truth should be told to those who have a right to know it.

LOYALTY. Promises, contracts, and commitments should be honored.

FAIRNESS. People should be treated justly.

HUMANENESS. Our actions ought to accomplish good, and we should avoid doing evil.

THE COMMON GOOD. Actions should accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Job attitudes

Job satisfaction: A positive feeling about a job resulting from an evaluation of its characteristics

Organizational commitment: A state in which an employee identifies with a particular organization and its goals, and wishes to maintain membership in the organization.

Affective commitment: An individual’s emotional attachment to and identification with an organization, and a belief in its values.

Normative commitment: The obligation an individual feels to stay with an organization.

Motivation

Intrinsic Motivators: A person’s internal desire to do something due to interest, challenge, and personal satisfaction

Extrinsic Motivators: Motivation that comes from outside the person, including pay, bonuses, and other tangible rewards