Definitions of Organizational Behavior
Organizational Behavior (OB) is the scientific study of how individuals, groups, and structures influence workplace dynamics.
From Robbins’ systematic approach to Mayo’s human relations perspective, OB bridges psychology, sociology, and management to optimize organizational effectiveness.
This article compiles 25 definitions of OB from pioneers like Schein, Mintzberg, and Drucker, revealing OB as:
- A lens for decoding workplace interactions
- A toolkit for enhancing productivity & culture
- A strategic framework for modern people management
Whether examining individual motivation (Maslow) or systemic structures (Weber), these foundational concepts remain vital for navigating today’s evolving work environments.
Let’s look at 25 notable definitions of organizational behavior in business:
1.) Stephen P. Robbins – “Organizational Behavior is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness.”
2.) Fred Luthans – “OB is the understanding, prediction, and management of human behavior in organizations.”
3.) Keith Davis – “Organizational Behavior is the study and application of knowledge about how people act within organizations.”
4.) John W. Newstrom – “OB is the systematic study and careful application of knowledge about how people—as individuals and as groups—act within organizations.”
5.) Gary Johns – “OB examines how individuals and groups behave in organizational settings and how organizations themselves function.”
6.) Daniel Katz and Robert Kahn: “OB explores the structure and functioning of organizations and the behavior of groups and individuals within them.”
7.) Edgar Schein – “OB is the study of how organizations influence and are influenced by the people who work in them.”
8.) Richard L. Daft – “OB is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding and managing people at work.”
9.) Michael A. Hitt – “OB focuses on human behavior in work settings, analyzing individual, group, and organizational dynamics.“
10.) Robert Kreitner & Angelo Kinicki – “OB is the study of human behavior in the workplace, the interaction between people and the organization, and the organization itself.”
11.) Warren Bennis – “OB is about understanding how organizations can be structured to unlock human potential.”
12.) Douglas McGregor (Theory X & Y) – “OB involves examining managerial assumptions about human motivation and their impact on organizational design.”
13.) Chris Argyris – “OB studies the gap between how organizations are formally structured and how people actually behave within them.”
14.) Henry Mintzberg – “OB looks at the informal patterns of behavior that emerge alongside formal organizational structures.”
15.) Elton Mayo (Hawthorne Studies) – “OB recognizes that social and psychological factors influence workplace productivity as much as physical conditions.”
16.) Abraham Maslow (Hierarchy of Needs) – “OB applies psychological principles to understand workplace motivation and satisfaction.”
17.) Victor Vroom (Expectancy Theory) – “OB examines how expectations, rewards, and effort shape employee performance.”
18.) Rensis Likert (Systems Theory) – “OB analyzes how leadership styles and organizational systems affect employee behavior.”
19.) Chester Barnard – “OB explores the cooperative systems that sustain organizations through human interaction.”
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20.) Mary Parker Follett – “OB emphasizes conflict resolution, power-sharing, and participative management.”
21.) Max Weber (Bureaucracy Theory) – “OB studies how formal rules, hierarchies, and authority structures shape behavior.”
22.) Peter Drucker – “OB connects human behavior to organizational performance, culture, and management practices.”
23.) Daniel Goleman (Emotional Intelligence) – “OB incorporates emotional and social intelligence in understanding workplace interactions.”
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24.) Rosabeth Moss Kanter – “OB examines how power, opportunity, and inclusion shape employee engagement.”
25.) W. Edwards Deming (Total Quality Management) – “OB applies behavioral science to improve teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement.”
These 25 definitions reveal Organizational Behavior as the cornerstone of effective workplace management – blending psychology, sociology, and strategy to optimize human potential.
From Mayo’s human relations to Schein’s cultural insights, OB continues evolving to address modern challenges like digital transformation and hybrid work, proving its enduring relevance in building adaptive, high-performing organizations.
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Sujan Chaudhary is an MBA graduate. He loves to share his business knowledge with the rest of the world. While not writing, he will be found reading and exploring the world.