Why is Organisational Behaviour the spine of a successful venture?

How does Organisational Behaviour shape the foundation of business success?

Do you think leaders are made? Do you think some people have personality traits that make them more vulnerable to conflicts? Is there a certain combination of systems and processes that make up a successful organisation? Does human nature have any role in shaping business outcomes? What makes a good team get to being an excellent team? The answer to these questions and a lot more lies in this interesting field of Organisational Behaviour (OB). Organisations may not have an OB department but the field of Organisational Behaviour covers aspects related to managing self, teams, and organisations that can then be applied to understanding the interdependence of individuals, teams, and organisation.

It borrows from the areas of:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Social psychology

For example, by understanding how employee motivation works, HR management and line management can design a rewards policy that encourages employees to work harder and be more productive. Understanding the difference in the leadership styles of different leaders would help in creating more team cohesion as well as choosing the right leader for the organisation.

What exactly is Organisational Behaviour?

Very simply put, Organisational Behaviour is the study of how individuals, teams, and structures interact with each other in the workplace context. By understanding Organisational Behaviour, individual employees, peers, managers, and leaders can understand how:

• Different individuals get motivated in different ways.
• Leadership styles are influenced by situations and employee learning styles.
• To identify sources of potential conflict and resolve dysfunctional conflicts.
• Teams make decisions.
• Emotions affect managerial performance.
• Personality traits affect decision-making.
• The organisation culture acts as a significant context for interpersonal relationships and many more such important elements.

Does the knowledge of Organisational Behaviour really matter?

To answer the question of whether knowledge of Organisational Behaviour matters and if so, how, let us look at the world around us. If you are a part of Gen Z or an enthusiastic millennial and not living under a rock, chances are that you have heard about the global pop star, Taylor Swift.

There are a plethora of things that can be learned from Taylor Swift, one important take-away is her charismatic style of leadership. You may have heard about the buzzwords of VUCA or agility or resilience being thrown around in almost every third management post, and if you look closely, Taylor Swift has shown how to be agile and adaptable to navigate the changes thrown by the external world.

Her fans find her relatable and authentic, and that will work very well for her if she ever decides to be a leader of the people. The attitude, behaviour, emotional competence, and charisma displayed by Taylor Swift as a professional when studied through the lens of Organisational Behaviour will demonstrate evidence of strong leadership abilities.

Now, do you think Organisational Behaviour is relevant?

Leadership is a crucial anchor for any organisation, and so is Culture. Consider the merger between Air India and Vistara which is a strategic move by the Tata Group to consolidate their assets in the airline industry. One of the challenges that the organisation would have to deal with, in its new avatar, would be the marriage of the two very different families of Air India and Vistara.

For example, The name Air India conjures up images of time lag, old aircraft, and inefficient service while Vistara makes you think of modernity, class, and elegance. The strategic success of the merger would depend largely on the understanding of the merging of two different cultures, with some shared and some distinct values and beliefs.

You can see the influence of our values, attitudes, perceptions, and emotions all around us, whether in a workplace setting or otherwise. Organisational Behaviour helps simplify these concepts and recognise the patterns in the behaviour of individuals in the workplace that affect productivity, engagement, teamwork, managerial and leadership style, and commitment to the organisation.

Where do we go from here?

A postgraduate programme in management would enable you to have the requisite competencies to be an effective manager in the workplace. In the PGDM Online programme offered by SPJIMR, the course on Organisational Behaviour is taught in two phases and with different pedagogical approaches.

The first part of the course focusses on understanding the self through a unique experiential approach while the second part focusses on acquiring the knowledge of the meso and macro aspects of workplace behaviour through analysing real-life case studies, engaging in peer discussions, and looking at practical applications of the concepts learned in class such as those of:

• Leadership styles
• Teams and conflicts
• Workplace power and politics
• Organisation design
• Organisational culture
• Managing change

TL; DR

The study of Organisational Behaviour equips you with an essential toolkit for understanding how people behave and interact in the workplace, including a reflection on how you behave as well. This knowledge helps to become:

• A more productive and engaged employee
• A high-performing team member
• An effective manager
• A formidable leader

The course on Organisational Behaviour would cover aspects of:

• Attitudes and perceptions
• Personality traits
• Functional and dysfunctional teams
• Employee motivation
• Leadership and managerial effectiveness
• Conflict resolution mechanisms
• Workplace power and politics
• Impression management
• Organisation structure and culture
• Managing change in organisations

If the downfall of Byju’s intrigues you or you find there is more to what meets the eye when talking about high-performance cultures in investment banks, or you want to study what it took for a fourth-generation leader to turn around a family business like Mafatlal or what made Steve Jobs a great disruptor or how the Chief of India’s healthcare would have to take into account the socio-cultural aspects of the nation in redesigning the new standards, the course in Organisational Behaviour is a great start.

By Prof. Tanvi Mankodi
Core Faculty, OLS Area
SPJIMR

FAQs

What is Organisational Behaviour (OB)?

Organisational Behaviour is the study of how individuals, teams, and structures interact within a workplace. It explores motivation, leadership, conflict resolution, and workplace dynamics to improve team performance and organisational culture.

Why is understanding Organisational Behaviour important?

Organisational Behaviour helps managers and employees navigate workplace relationships, resolve conflicts, improve decision-making, and enhance team cohesion. It is crucial for developing leadership skills and adapting to change in an organisation.

How can Organisational Behaviour benefit leadership and team dynamics?

Organisational Behaviour provides insights into leadership styles and how they affect team cohesion. It helps identify the right leader for a team and fosters better communication, motivation, and conflict resolution within teams.

How does Organisational Behaviour connect to real-world examples?

By understanding Organisational Behaviour, managers and employees can apply these principles to real-world scenarios, making workplaces more effective, efficient, and adaptive to challenges. Organisational Behaviour connects directly to everyday business practices, helping organisations thrive in dynamic environments whether it is in scenarios such as the Air India-Vistara merger or Microsoft’s leadership programme Google’s employee engagement practices or team management at Spotify

What does the Organisational Behaviour course at SPJIMR cover?

The Organisational Behaviour course at SPJIMR covers self-awareness, leadership, team dynamics, conflict resolution, organisational culture, and change management. It includes experiential learning, case studies, and peer discussions to apply these concepts practically.