Quiz

The chapter discusses 5 major aspects of organizational behavior. Which of the following is NOT one of them:

(1)Attitudes(2)Roles(3)Norms(4)Self-Concept(5)Perception(6)Communication

Individuals in police organizationsThe Human Perspective

Human Behavior

Why is this important to understand? Every aspect of management involves people Behavior is the most important—but also the

most complex—input in the systemHow do people fit into a systems approach? People are the basic unit of a system People are comprised of important subsystems People are influenced by external systemsAll these interdependencies makes for a complex

system that if very difficult to understand

Five major aspects of organizational behavior

These are borrowed from Psychology & Sociology:

(1)Attitudes(2)Roles(3)Self-Concept(4)Perception(5)Communication

Attitudes

A constellation of beliefs, sentiments, and behavioral tendencies concerning some object

Why are these important? Attitudes are thought to affect behaviorEvidence of this? Yes, but not a direct one.How do attitudes fit into systems theory?How do attitudes fit into behavioral

change?

Roles

Engaging in accepted behavior according to individual perceptions

People engage in many rolesProblem: Some roles may be in conflictPolice role: very powerful, and influences

every aspect of officers’ lives (even when not @ work)

Managers should be keenly aware of varying police roles

Self Concept

A person’s image, either contemporary or ideal Developed through interactions w/othersHow does this relate to policing? People join b/c the job fits with either their

current or ideal self conceptProblem: job can turn out to be much different than

expected Managers can aid employees by helping

them achieve their self concept through accurate appraisals and goal-setting

Perception

Data from sensory organs People’s perceptions of the same event can

vary tremendously Variation is due to differences in sensory

capabilities, but also how people interpret sensory information through attitudes, roles, & (especially) self concepts.

Problem: People often assume other perceive things the

way they do; Managers must combat this.How are perceptions changed? Through feedback loops built into a system

Communication

Vehicle for learning/feedback; way in which info is exchanged; “the medium of management”

Can take many forms (oral, verbal, nonverbal) Involves not only how things are expressed,

but how they are received Tends to be the scapegoat for problems New issues: language, one-way

communication Key issue for a police manager is effective

communication

Groups in the police organizationThe Human Perspective

Groups

Groups tend to form their own cultures which serve to guide behavior

Group cultures or subcultures can exert powerful influences over people

Some occupations form very powerful cultures—the police are one of these.

Important for managers to understand occupational cultures and how they impact an organization

Aspect of Group Systems

3 basic aspects of group social systems:(1)Required system Activities required for group survival(2) Personal system Predispositions people bring with them(3) Emergent system Activities not required for group survival Invariably occurs when required and

personal systems interact. Some are +, others -

The Emergent System

Why is this important?

Thought to have 3 important consequences:

(1)Productivity: labor output(2)Satisfaction: how people feel about

their work(3)Growth: how people change in their

work (for the better)