It is important to understand organizational behaviour in order to understand the way people behave in organizations. People behave differently in groups to the way they do when they are alone. We also try to predict behaviour based on study. Being able to predict how someone will act gives us comfort and makes us feel safer. Some people wish to control the behaviour of others based on their predictions, this is considered unacceptable to do in most organisations. The subject aims to explain organizations such as: Power structures, culture, leadership, group conflict, and the economy.
The government is an example of a power structure that can be studied. Elected leaders behave in a way that encourages the public to idealise them. Most have a completely different persona when dealing with public. This even differs to the way they behave when dealing with other politicians. Leadership in companies and similar organizations can be observed using theories of organizational behaviour.
Culture is a social organization. The way people interact with and react to culture is a part of organizational behaviour. For example, group worship is a group organizational activity that could be a case study for the subject. Another good example would be music concerts (people are gathered to view a cultural phenomenon.)
Being able to predict and control group conflict is essential to maintaining a safe society. People in groups often have a mob mentality which leads to violence. Police will often try to predict and control demonstrations that spiral out of control. Countries who are at war with each other want to be able to predict what the other is going to do. This helps them strategically win a war.
The economy is based on a group mentality. Members of society work together and alongside each other to produce resources.
