There are lots of diverse modes of human interactions in every organizations (both formal or informal) and these occur among individuals as well as in groups. There organizational behaviors are influenced by the management styles, leadership techniques, organizational technology, culture and structure. All the factors mentioned above, influence the behaviors of people in the organization based on both their inherited characteristics/traits and learned characteristics/traits.
- Physiological characteristics: Some of these characteristics such as physical height, body size, vision, dexterity, stamina etc., have a direct influence on job performance.
- Intelligence: Intelligence is primarily an inherited trait even though children of some very intelligent parents have turned out to be less intelligent and vice versa. It is also known that intelligence can be enhanced by proper environment, or by proper motivation. Intelligent people are easy to convince if the point is right making them more flexible and able to adjust to changes in the work place.
- Sex: These definitely affects employees' output e.g. Men mostly ‘never cry’ and women are usually highly ‘emotional’ therefore their responses to different situations differ.
- Age: Age may affect behavior physiologically as well as psychologically; young people are usually more energetic, innovative, risk taking, and adventurous while older people are usually more conservative and set in their ways and have less stamina.
- Religion: Religion and religiously based cultures play an important role in determining some aspects of individual behavior that concerns morals and a code of conduct. Highly religious people have high moral standards and usually do not talk ill of others. They are highly contented and thus strive for achievement and self-fulfillment.
Some of the behavioral characteristics that account for enormous diversity in human behavior are a product of our exposure to various situations both within the family and the outside environment. These characteristics are learned. Learning can be defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior resulting from interactions with the environment. These characteristics involve an individual’s attitudes, values and perceptions about the environment around him.
- Perception: Perception is the process by which information enters our minds and is interpreted. Perception is a result of a complex interaction of various senses such as feeling, seeing, hearing, and so on.
- Attitude: Attitude is a perception with a frame of reference. It is a tendency to act in a certain way. People's attitudes show in their work performance, punctuality or absenteeism, adjustment to work or complaints about work, obedience or disobedience to rules and regulations. These attitudes can be changed either by persuasion or training or coaching.
To be continued...