Organizational Behavior

Think back to a job you hated. Maybe you were a cashier at Dunkin’ Donuts. Your co-workers were fussy, your manager was domineering, and the overall team spirit—if there was any—was dry as a bone. Now recall a job you loved. Maybe you were an Intern at Zoom. Your co-workers were kind, curious, and driven. All your assigned projects carried a fierce team spirit. Everyone seemed happy. Your manager genuinely cared about your well-being and growth, and frequently offered you opportunities to expand your skill set. Glassdoor ratings of each company reflect your experience: Dunkin’ Donuts is rated a measly 3.3 stars, whereas Zoom a staggering 4.6.

What makes workers hate working at Dunkin’ Donuts but love working at Zoom? Why do workers thrive collaboratively at Zoom while skirmishes prevail at Dunkin’? What makes a manager effective? What makes an employee effective? Such are just some of the questions that the field of organizational behavior attempts to answer. Ultimately, organizational behavior is the study of how human behavior—or psychology—drives organizations. Merging psychology with business, OB uses behavioral interventions to maximize an organization’s productivity.