Organizational Behavior Assumptions

Use this SkillGuide to view assumptions of what drives organizational behavior.

Traditional Assumptions

• people try to satisfy one class of need at work: economic need
• people act rationally to maximize rewards
• people act individually to satisfy individual needs
• no conflict exists between individual and organizational objectives

Human Relations Movement Assumptions

• organizations are social systems, not just technical and economic systems
• people are driven by many needs
• people aren't always logical
• people are interdependent, with behavior often shaped by social context
• informal work groups are major factors in the attitudes and performance of individuals, and management is only one factor
• job roles are more complex than their simple job descriptions, and people act in ways not covered by the job descriptions
• there's no automatic correlation between the needs of the individual and the organization
• communication channels cover both the business aspects of an organization and people's feelings
• teamwork is essential for cooperation and effective decision making
• leadership should include human relations concepts
• increased job satisfaction leads to increased job productivity
• management should have effective social skills in addition to technical skills

Source: Human Resources Fundamentals (HRCI/PHR - 2007-aligned)