Organizational behavior theories help companies improve management practices, with classical theory focusing on task completion, employee matching, supervision, and management planning. Contingency theory manages conflicts, while systems theory views firms as related pieces of a larger operation. Each theory can increase operational efficiency if implemented correctly.
Organizational behavior theory usually represents concepts that help a company create better management practices. In some cases, these theories may mean creating structure in the business; in other cases, it could be staff training for different tasks. The most common types of organizational behavior include classic, contingency, and systems, among others. The first theory deals with the management practices of a company, the second looks at the management of conflicts within an organization and the last represents a theory of related systems. A company can use one theory or switch to another if it chooses, provided that the new behavior increases the company’s operational efficiency.
Classical organizational behavior theory typically comprises four parts, although newer forms of this theory may include more parts. These are: finding the best way to complete tasks, matching the best employee to each task, closely supervising workers while using rewards and punishments for motivation, and using management planning and control in the firm. Every part is important to every activity in a business, with the end result of this being improved management effectiveness and efficiency. This classic theory can also fall under the moniker scientific management theory. This theory is also very challenging to complete compared to other organizational behavior theories.
In most companies, conflict is not seen as beneficial and most upper-level executives look for ways to avoid it. Emergency organizational behavior theory, however, understands that conflict is inevitable, although usually manageable. Therefore, owners and managers must find ways to manage and control conflicts between workers, departments and external groups. Firms that engage in this organizational theory often offer greater managerial control to lower-level managers and supervisors. This allows for conflict control at lower levels without micromanagement by higher level managers.
Systems organizational behavior theory views firms as individual but related pieces of a much larger operation. If the company’s management team changes just one aspect of one department, it can cause reverberations that resonate in other departments. Under this theory, it is important to understand that a dynamic equilibrium must exist for the business to continue to operate efficiently. Also, there might be some nonlinear relationships between the variables that add even more complexity to the overall organization. These additional variables, together with those already known, can make it difficult to control an entity that functions according to the systems organizational behavior theory.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
