Organizational behavior (OB) is the study of the way people interact within groups.

Normally this
study is applied in an attempt to create more efficient business organizations. The central idea of
the study of organizational behavior is that a scientific approach can be applied to the
management of workers. Organizational behavior theories are used for human resource purposes
to maximize the output from individual group members.

Organizational Behavior Influences

Organizational behavior (OB) is a relatively new field of study that developed during the birth of
the Industrial Revolution. This was a time in United States history where factories and
automation created a totally new society based on worker output of goods and services. This
period of history became the force behind the need to further study worker productivity,
performance and motivation. The major behavioral science disciplines that contributed to the
development of organizational behavior are psychology, sociology, anthropology, management
and medicine. Let's look at the impact these disciplines had on the birth of organizational
behavior.

Psychology
Hugo Munsterberg was a Harvard psychologist who was interested in the study of applied
psychology and how it could be used to examine organizational psychology. It is a subset of
psychology, and is called organizational psychology, which was fixated on the motivation and
behavior of workers. Motivational theories of organizational behavior were intrinsic to helping
companies increase worker productivity, job commitment and achievement. Psychology was a
huge part of what became organizational behavior, as it explained the internal and external
influences on individuals' work performance and behavior. The second field had an impact on
groups within an organization.

Sociology
Sociology was the second discipline that helped form the basis for organizational behavior. The
term means the study of society, and this helps researchers understand group dynamics and how
they impact organizations. For example, in 1957 Harvard researchers defined the term role set as
how individuals perform different roles in a group environment. Role sets led researchers to
further study roles of workers in organizations to see how productivity and motivation could be
improved by different techniques using teamwork. Sociology has had a huge impact in group
ethics and group interaction. Another surprising discipline has led to the development of
organizational behavior.

Anthropology
Anthropology has also impacted how organizational culture is understood. It is the science of
human learned behavior. Historically, certain types of cultures have been more productive and
efficient. Organizational behavior has adapted those values and traits when trying to improve
employee productivity and output. Human resources have also needed to embrace cultural views
of how to manage, motivate and embrace diversity. The fourth discipline comes from a traditional
business sense.
Political science
The study of the behavior of individuals and groups within a political environment. It also means
"the act or science of guiding or influencing governmental policy"; the study of politics is helpful in
the nourishment and development of the OB. Among different groups and individuals, if loyalty is
not found, then OB does not flourish and rather becomes the victim of deadlock. Political science
provides an insight for the improvement and modification of the OB. The OB involves the
application of political science at all levels. It may be at the highest level, like country, and at the
lowest level, like an institute or organization. It involves the study of behaviour in a political
environment.