Introduction
Understanding Human Behaviour is critical to organisations. Self assessment and evaluation can have a positive effect on an organisation and this is used by many successful leaders.
Conversely, prejudice can be hurtful and destructive. Everybody within an organisation is responsible for reducing prejudice in their workplace and I will give examples of my own experiences.
This paper is made of two distinct sections. These two sections will look more deeply into the organisations we work in and try to understand the people that belong there. I will consider all aspects before making my conclusion and I will use examples along the way. I am also going to look at research that has been carried out to help me give a broader perspective of the topic.
Understanding Human Behaviour is critical to organisations
The first part of my paper will look at ways to understand how, and more importantly, why we behave the way we do in our workplace. It is believed that if we can go some way to understanding our work colleagues better, we can increase productivity for the organisation.
What is Organisational Behaviour?
“Organisational behaviour (often abbreviated as OB) is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behaviour within organisations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organisation’s effectiveness” Robbins and Judge (2009:44)
The benefits of self evaluation/self assessment as it relates to leaders today
Many studies have proven that by understanding a group or individual, it will help to make that organisation a better place to work. There are several ways to begin the study of an organisations and individuals within it, and in this...
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When the word “prejudice” is mentioned in public conversation, undertones of anger and unfairness usually accompany it. Prejudice is often defined as a predetermined opinion not based on fact,experience, or knowledge. Many acts of inequalities and discriminative wrong-doings in history can be traced back to being a result of prejudice.So what place does a concept with such a negative connotation have in an institution of higher education where students and faculty of varying cultures and backgrounds come together to learn? Instinctively, a good number of people would answer that prejudice and its negative consequences have no place in such an environment. However, a contradicting opinion is expressed in an article written by Jonathan Rauch titled “In Defense of Prejudice” . In this article, Rauch expresses his dissatisfaction with the
Prejudice can be defined as any preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience, 2. Harm or injury that results or may result from some action or judgment, and due in part to the first Amendment, which gave all Americans the right of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition, many Americans believe they have the right to verbally judge whomever and whatever they seem fit, to no extent. However these same American underestimate the impact prejudice can have on a person’s body and mind because as we all know prejudice grows. Prejudice can also affect all phases of life: the past, the present, and the future. Maya Angelou said, “ Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.
I HAVE A STRONG belief that PREJUDICE also HAPPENS within a group. If you belong to a social group and there is OTHER group who are OPPOSE TO PREVIOUS GROUP, for example 'charvas ' and 'Goths ' there is usually hostility between the THIS GROUPS, because they HAVE DIFFERENT DRESS CODE and enjoy DIFFERENT HOBBIES. However, if these OPPOSITE groups HAVE NO OPTION TO COORPORATE together in a CERTAIN POSITION that they had NO OTHER CHOICE, the BOUNDARY 'drawn ' between them LIKE 38TH PARALLEL would BE DESTORYED and BE ABLE get along TOGETHER. However, as discussES in a VARITIES of EXPERIMENT, Aronson et. al. who OPERATED with the jigsaw SERVEY technique, it has CERTIFIED that changes in prejudGEMENTAL arising from the PERFORMING situation may not generalize to other INCIDENTS and until prejudice is DEDUCED in society, for example through edification which will practice these methods, people will be further likely to stay within their private group and remain to be unreceptive to groups that are diverse from
Pierce, Jon L. and John W. Newstrom (2011) 6th edition. Leaders and the Leadership Process.
Currently there are a number of theoretical and conceptual psychological approaches, which both define and explain prejudice. Personality theories primarily locate race and prejudice within the intro-psychic domain of the individual. From this perspective, authoritarian-rearing practices, intolerance and intro psychic defence mechanisms are isolated as casual agents to a significant problem. There are several theories as to why people are prejudiced. The exploitation theory keeps a racial group in a subordinate social position. The scapegoating theory says that prejudice peo...
Prejudice is the attitude of conveying negative stereotypes to a particular group, usually known as the out-groups. Usually the stereotypes are generalizations based on superficial opinions, so they have an invalid connotation behind it. Stereotypes in some cases evoke prejudice mindsets, leading to discriminate a certain ethnic group, age group, religion, seuxal orienntation, or body size. Stereotypes are usually socially learned from one’s environment and latched onto the mind of a young child. This could possibly later influence their opinion about something they are not fully educated on. One cannot control what they are taught, but one can control what they do with that information. They can either not believe a word of it or take it into
The basis for this concept, begins with the causes of prejudice. While there are many causes that relate to prejudice, the context ...
This week’s report deals with the concept of in and out-groups. As we begin, we will be looking into what exactly makes an in and out-group. We will also study the concepts of in and out-groups. Once we wrap up the first portion of the research we will immediately be going into our second section. The second portion will consist of describing a personal example in which I was part of an in-group situation. Once I divulge my personal example, I will be describing a situation in which a colleague of mine found himself in an out-group situation. Once we study these two situations, the report will navigate into the third portion in which we will be analyzing and explaining some of the differences between my in-group situation and my colleague’s out-group experience. As we move into the fourth section of the report, we will be looking into how in-groups and out-groups affect organizations and their employees. The fifth section of the report will explain how the out-group situation in which my colleague found himself was directly caused by an extend of a non-task related factors. Finally, as we reach the final section of the report, the report will describe some of the implications that can occur when leader’s develop a relationship with their followers.
In our global economy requiring functional and respectful relationships between nations, prejudice and stereotypes can be a destructive force both in the world and in individual societies, especially in diverse ones.
Prejudice cannot be readily defined. Even when evidence seems unambiguous, claims of prejudice are usually hotly contested. Allport defined prejudice as an antipathy that is founded on an inflexible and faulty generalization. He further stated that it can be expressed or felt, directed towards an individual or a group. An integral part of the acknowledgment of prejudice lies in properly identifying the appropriate category under which antagonism is targeted. For instance, the populace may not be prejudiced generally against ladies, but they may be fairly prejudiced against ladies who take up social roles usually set for men. Some prejudice may at times take the form condescending or patronizing reactions, when groups are understood to be dependent or incompetent. E...
Kleg, M. (1993). Hate, prejudice, and racism. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
If we think of organizations as complex social systems, we can appreciate the need for people to represent the system itself -even in times of change and diversity- and that may lead to their maximum development. Without any doubt, this is a difficult role to play by today...
Prejudice is an inexcusable attitude (usually harmful) towards an individual based solely on the individual’s membership of a social group. Victims of prejudice may have difficulty focusing on tasks and making clear decisions and this effect can linger after the incident. Psychotherapy may be helpful in treating the negative mental effects of someone who has been the victim of prejudice. Psychotherapy may also be beneficial for someone who has prejudged or discriminated against another.
Prejudice and discrimination have both been prevalent throughout human history. Prejudice deals with the inflexible and irrational attitudes and opinions that are held by others of one group against those of another. Discrimination on the other hand refers to the behaviors directed against another group. Prejudiced individuals have preconceived beliefs about groups of people or cultural practices. There are both positive and negative forms of prejudice, however, the negative form of prejudice leads to discrimination. Individuals that practice discrimination do so to protect opportunities for themselves, by denying access to those whom they believe do not deserve the same treatment as everyone else. An example of discrimination based on prejudice involves the Jews. “Biased sentiments and negative stereotypes of Jews have been a part of Western tradition for centuries and, in fact, have been stronger and more vicious in Europe than in the United States. For nearly two millennia, European Jews have been chastised and persecuted as the “killers of Christ” and stereotyped as materialistic moneylenders and crafty business owners (Healey, p.65). The prejudice against these groups led to the discrimination against them.
After About four weeks of taking Organizational behaviour, we have covered a broad spectrum of subject from motivation to personality and behaviour theories has well has the process of individual learning, and how they are met in everyday business life. This essay simply summarise my understanding of the course with my personal experiences has a way in which I relate a few of the theories and topics learned in the span of these few weeks.