FOUNDATIONS OF

INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
Chapter 2
INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR–CONCEPT
• Every individual is different -physical characteristics, abilities, psychological
needs, intelligence, etc.
• The challenge of an effective organization is in successfully matching the task,
the manager and the subordinate.
• A manager has to use the existing resources for a given task, and must have
the ability to understand the differences in individual behaviors and use them
appropriately to increase the synergy.
• Kurt Levin- individuals are influenced by a number of diversified factors both
genetic and environmental.
• Individual behavior is a function of person, environment and organization
systems and psychological factors.
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,
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FACTORS INFLUENCING INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR

Individual behavior is influenced by several factors such as:

• Personal factors
• Psychological factors
• Environmental factors and
• Organizational factors (system and resources)

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,

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Environmental Factors FACTORS
Economic
Social norms and cultural values INFLUENCI
NG
Political

INDIVIDUA
Personal Factors
Age

L
Sex
Education
Performance
Abilities
Marital status
No. of dependents BEHAVIOR
Tenure

Organizational systems resources

Physical facilities
Organizational structure and Individual Development
design
Oganization culture and climate
Reward system
Leadership style

Psychological
Personality
Perception
Attitudes
Values
Learning

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,

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PERSONAL FACTORS
• Age [impact productivity, performance, satisfaction, absenteeism and turnover in workplace; experience,
judgment, a strong work ethic and commitment to quality to their jobs, lacking flexibility and resistant to
new technology]
• Gender [No difference in mental abilities, problem-solving ability, analytical skills and competitive drive.
However, women’ s responsibilities, may affect their job performance, turnover and absenteeism, women
- less aggressive, Men- more aggressive, more ambitious.]
• Education [education disciplines a person, positive outcomes, deserves a better placement, performance]
• Abilities: [perform mental activities and usually represent the intelligence- (i) intellectual abilities and (ii)
physical abilities. ref. page 31, 32, Table 2.1 & 2.2]
• Marital status: [married employees have fewer absences, undergo fewer turnovers, and are more
satisfied with their jobs than are their unmarried coworkers.]
• Number of dependents: [Absenteeism, turnover is inversely related to the number of dependents on the
employee. ]
• Length of service/tenure: direct impact on job performance, turnover and productivity.
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,
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ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
• Economic factors [employment level, wages rates, economic
outlook, and technological change]
• Socio-cultural factors [employee’s relationship with family
members, friends, colleagues, supervisors and subordinates. Social
norms, customs, traditions behavior of individual person, society’s basic
value, work ethics, preferences and behavior.]
• Political factors: [stability- can affect employment opportunities and
higher wages, instability- unemployment increases and wages
decrease, leading to a high level of insecurity and dissatisfaction
among individual employees.]
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,
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ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS AND
RESOURCES (ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS)
• Physical facilities [lighting, ventilation, air conditioning, noise level, painting on
walls, nature of job, space and equipment provided]
• Organizational structure and design [structure, role and responsibilities,
clear authority, responsibility and unity of command]
• Organization culture and climate [Values, ethics, beliefs, ethos, climate and
culture]
• Reward system [reward and recognition system - through appreciation,
encouragement, and awards]
• Leadership style [leadership and supervision provides direction, assistance,
advice, guidance andORGANIZATIONAL
coaching.] BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,
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PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
• Psychological [mental features and attribution]
• Personality [determine our thoughts, feelings and behavior. Heredity, family,
society, culture and situation influence the personality of an individual.]
• Perception [individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions in order to
give meaning to their environment; perform better if they are going to perceive work
environment in a positive way]
• Values [decision about and evaluations of behavior and events, whether they are
right or wrong; values are the foundation for behavioral differences; differ across
cultures]
• Attitudes [mind-set how we react to certain situation; result in performance,
absenteeism, motivation, satisfaction,
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (©etc.]
Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,
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MODELS OF INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
• Individual behavior means how an individual response to any stimuli
• Stimuli - external and internal forces
• act physically and emotionally in response to external and internal
stimuli
• RATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL MODELS
• BEHAVIORISTICS AND HUMANISTIC MODELS
• ECONOMIC AND SELF-ACTUALIZING MODELS
• THEORY X AND THEORY Y MODELS

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MODELS OF INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
RATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL MODELS
• Based on Sigmund Freud’s philosophy
• Rational model - a highly rational (sensible) entity, collect all relevant information,
analyses the data and then arrive at a solution.
• Emotional model- guided by emotions, many of which are unconscious responses.
Freudians perceive human being as irrational, because of the constant conflicts among
• Id (impulsive and unconscious part of our mind, responds immediately to the
instincts),
• Ego (part of the id, modified by the direct influence of the external world)
• Superego (it incorporates the values and morals of society , learned from one's
parents and others).
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,
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MODELS OF INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
BEHAVIORISTICS AND HUMANISTIC MODELS
• Behaviouristic model
• Observable behavior, as contrasted with thoughts or feelings
• All behavior is environmentally determined
• Concern with external behavior of individuals and ignored the significance of the
mind as it could not be observed.
• Humanistic model
• Individual is more philosophical than scientific.
• Individual as capable of overcoming irrational impulses through conscious reasoning
• People control their own destiny to a great degree, and their potential cannot be
underestimated.
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,
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MODELS OF INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
ECONOMIC AND SELF-ACTUALIZING MODELS
•  Economic model
• Conceptualizes the individual as totally economic in orientation
• Calculate the cost of efforts for getting any inducement similarly
• Calculate the value of inducement
• Know all alternative available
• Self-actualizing model
• Assumes that an individual is motivated by the opportunity to grow,
mature, and become all he or she is capable of becoming.
• Individual as passion for personal growth, job competence, and self-
fulfillment. ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,
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MODELS OF INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR
THEORY X AND THEORY Y MODELS
• Theory X - lazy, uncreative, and in need of constant pushing
• Theory Y - tremendous potential, channelize towards
organization goals.

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,

KATHMANDU
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR 1st ed. (© Biswakarma, 2018) SHAMJHANA PUBLICATION,
KATHMANDU