What are the Levels of OB analysis????

Levels/Scope of OB

Table of Contents

Levels OR Scope of Organizational Behavior Analysis:-

OB monitors the behavior of employees at all three level; individual, group and organization.

A).Individual Level Analysis:-

Individual employee is the base of organization. Individuals are the elementary unit of organization. They are so diversified in nature. Organization is goal oriented institution of individuals. Psychology is crucial contributing field in this level. It focuses on personal performance in the organization. So, it is called micro level of study because it studies about individuals factors. It consists of characteristics, behavior of employees as well as process of thought. Such factors can be listed as below:-

(i).Individual Units:-Emotions, Norms, Values, Personality, Biological Factors and Ability etc.

(ii).Individual Process:-Decision Making, Perception, Learning and Motivation etc.

B).Group Level Analysis:-

Group is unit formed of two or more individuals working together to achieve common objective. It can be formal or informal. Social psychology, anthropology and sociology are crucial contributing field at this level. This level well defines on how people interact to each other. It focuses on group performance in the organization. It is macro level of study because it studies about group factors. Such factors can be listed as below:-

(i). Group Inputs:-Group Size, Group Composition and Task Characteristics.

(ii).Group Process:-Group Dynamics, Communication, Power, Leadership, Politics and Conflict Process.

 C).Organizational Level Analysis:-

The unit formed of two or more groups is called organization. It focuses on organizational performance. It is macro level of study because it studies about organizational business environment. Political science, sociology and anthropology are crucial contributing field of this level. It focuses on finding how organization interacts with their external factors. Such factors can be listed as below:-

(i).Inputs:-Organizational Structure, Organizational Culture, Leadership, Power and Politics.

(ii).Process:-Formal Organization Design, HR Policies & Practices, Interaction with External Environment.

  •  Challenges and Opportunities for Organizational Behavior, OR                           
  • Critical Behavioral Issues confronting the Managers:-

    • The study of behavior of individuals, groups and structure in an organization for applying knowledge found about them to improve organizational effectiveness is called organizational behavior.  Challenges and opportunities  of OB are such as:-

    (i).Globalization:-

    The task of creating atmosphere for conducting the business activities all over the world or in to various foreign markets is known as globalization of organization.

    Organization has to compete with various local and global organizations there.Organization behavior is influenced by following challenges and opportunities due to globalization:-

    Challenges:-

    (i).Cultural diversities of HR,(ii).Different work guidelines and responsibilities,
    (iii).Addressing disappointment,
    (iv). Different political ideology,
     (v). Gaining managerial skills,
    (vi).Different decision making approach  and procedure,

    (vii).Determining Incentives .
    (vi).Different group and inter-group process,
    (vii).Different stress management approach,
    (viii).Diversified Controlling Patterns,
     (ix).Different organizational Structure ,

    Opportunities:-

    (i).Accessing new customers,
     (ii).Higher income opportunities,
    (iii).Innovation opportunities,

    (iv)Learning new ideas,
    (v).Better career opportunities and
    (vi).Establishing brand image etc

    (ii).Work Force Diversity:-

    The involvement of staffs from both dissimilar and similar society, cultures, norms, values, belief, attitude, level of anger, ideology, education level, physical characteristics, language, country, ethnicity, class, genders, ages, backgrounds, skills, physical challenges, sexual motive, experiences, behavior, preferences and goal etc  together within same work place or organization is called workforce diversity.

    Challenges

    Opportunities

    It is challenging to place diversified group of people at same work place by addressing their different life styles, cultures, family needs and work styles

    If diversity is managed properly, it can increase creativity and innovations.

    (iii).Quality and Productivity:-

    Competition is too tough in current market scenario. The quality and productivity must be maintained by utilizing the limited resources and traditional man powers. Total quality management, quality circle and organizational re-engineering etc can be enforced for quality and productivity improvement. Proper motivation, reward and participative decision making system should be used. Organization should determine performance standard in advance and try to meet that.


    (iv).Skill Improvement:-

    The skill manpower is required to strengthen the competitive capacity of organization to increase quality and productivity. Skill can be improved through:-

    (i).Managerial ranking,
    (ii).Participation,
    (iii).Increasing automation,
    (iv).Decentralized decision making,
     (v).Increasing Responsibility,

    (vi).Team work,
    (vii).Training,
    (viii).Re-educate,
    (ix).Motivation etc

    (v).Employee Empowerment:-

    Traditionally, employees were controlled by their bosses, supervisors or managers. Managers used to control employees as their coach, facilitator or team leader. But it would be better to involve employees in managerial and working both roles. Employees can be empowered through:-

    (a).Job Design,
    (b).Self Managed Team work,
    (c).Authority Delegation,
    (d).Quality Circles,
    (e).Leadership,

    (f).Job Enrichment,
    (g).Motivation,
    (h).Motivation,
    (i).Self –Appraisal,
    (j).Management By Objectives(MBO) etc.

    (vi).Organizational Change Management:-

    Changing environment is responsible for organization change. If organization does not change with changing environment, it can't follow market trends and compete strongly with other organizations. Managers and employees themselves keep so flexible to go with the change. OB helps to track changing scenarios, reduces barriers against change and creates change adopting organizational culture.

     (vii).Ethical Behavior Improvement:-

    The well set of standard for justice which studies which is morally good or bad, right or wrong, reasonable or unreasonable and justifiable or unjustifiable and what must do , generally in terms of specific virtue, fairness, social interests, duty and rights is called ethics. There may be ethical dilemmas, doubt and confusion in organization about work. So, organization must define ethical boundaries of work properly through employee's code, rules, regulation and manual of work.

    (viii).Temporariness:-

    Human needs and desire are infinitive. They change their job and move towards high paying institutions. Specially, skill human resources never get limited within single organization. They change organization frequently to learn new skill, get exposure and having high payments.

    (ix).Managing Information Technology:-

    Information technology is being changed so rapidly. Competitors are adopting information technology highly to grow their strength. It is challenging to adopt changing information technology due to limited available budget, traditional manpower having less technical skill and uneducated customers. Video conferencing, mobile phone, computer and other work based technology are being changed rapidly nowadays.

    (x).Other challenges:-

    Some other challenges related to organizational behavior are such as:-

    (a).Providing better customer service, 
    (b). Bringing Innovation,
    (d).Networked organizations, 
    (e). Balancing personal life and work life.
    (f).Controlling Corruption etc.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    • What are the levels of OB analysis? Explain them.
    •  What are the scope of OB analysis? Explain them.
    • Explain challenges and opportunities of OB,
    • Explain critical behavioral issues confronting the managers.