Organisational Behaviour and Culture

What this unit covers

The resources here follow the usual run of an organisational behaviour course. Some look at the individual: motivation, attitudes and satisfaction, emotions and moods, personality and values. Others look at groups and the wider organisation: teams, conflict and negotiation, communication, decision making, structure and design, culture and change.

Culture has plenty of material of its own, including the mind maps Organisational Culture and Corporate Culture, and a flashcard deck on Hofstede's cultural dimensions, from power distance to indulgence.

Where to start

If the subject is new, begin with the mind map Organisational behaviour and the flashcard deck of the same name. Then open Motivation, which sets out intensity, direction and persistence, and the notes on organisational culture.

1. Read a broad overview map first.
2. Move to a topic map, such as the one on power and influence tactics.
3. Test yourself with flashcards or a quiz.

Using maps and quizzes together

Mind maps are good for seeing how ideas connect. The map on power and influence tactics, for instance, links definitions of power, sources of power, influence tactics and organisational politics. Once you have read one, close it and take a quiz such as OB Final or Stress Management. Anything you get wrong tells you which map to reopen.

The notes on micropolitics in organisations pair well with the power maps, since they treat the organisation as a network of power relationships. The notes on organisational change list the forces behind change, such as globalisation and new technology.

Where it sits

This unit belongs to the People, Organisation and Leadership strand of Business administration and management (incl. project management). Nearly all the material is aimed at university level, with a smaller share written for professional candidates and for school-level study.

Teachers can use the decks and maps as ready-made starting points for a seminar or revision session. When you are ready, pick one topic, work through its map and quiz, and then build a set of your own.