Chapter 2. Foundations
of Individual Behaviour
1–0
Section Outline
Ability physical and intellectual,
Biographical characteristics,
Learning and theories of learning,
Shaping behaviour
Robbins, S. P., Judge, T. A., & Vohra, N (2012). Organizational Behavior, 14th
Edition, New Delhi: Pearson Education.
1–1
Chapter Learning Objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
– Contrast the two types of ability.
– Define intellectual ability and demonstrate its relevance
to OB.
– Identify the key biographical characteristics and
describe how they are relevant to OB.
– Define learning and outline the principles of the three
major theories of learning.
– Define shaping, and show how it can be used in OB.
– Show how culture affects our understanding of
intellectual abilities, biographical characteristics, and
learning.
Ability
An individual’s capacity to perform the various tasks in a
job.
Made up of two sets of factors:
– Intellectual Abilities
• The abilities needed to perform mental activities.
• General Mental Ability (GMA) is a measure of overall
intelligence.
• Wonderlic Personnel Test: a quick measure of
intelligence for recruitment screening.
• No correlation between intelligence and job satisfaction.
– Physical Abilities
• The capacity to do tasks demanding stamina, dexterity,
strength, and similar characteristics.
Dimensions of Intellectual Ability
Number
Aptitude
Verbal
Comprehension
Memory
Spatial
Visualization
Intellectual
Ability
Deductive
Reasoning
Inductive
Reasoning
Perceptual
Speed
Nine Basic Physical Abilities
Strength Factors
–
–
–
–
Dynamic strength
Trunk strength
Static strength
Explosive strength
Flexibility Factors
– Extent flexibility
– Dynamic flexibility
Other Factors
– Body coordination
– Balance
– Stamina
Biographical Characteristics
Objective
and
characteristics.
easily
obtainable
personal...