Essentials of Organizational Behavior [Paperback]

Stephen P. Robbins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131445715 | ISBN-13: 978-0131445710 | Publication Date: January 15, 2005 | Edition: 8th

For one-semester, undergraduate and graduate level courses in Organizational Behavior. This text provides balanced coverage of key topics in Organizational Behavior including traditional as well as cutting-edge issues. At 300 pages, it's a viable alternative to the traditional 600-700 page core text. The absence of end-of-chapter pedagogy makes it flexible enough to combine with outside cases, readings, and experiential materials.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Steve Robbins' Self-Assessment Library (S.A.L.) is a unique learning tool that allows you to assess your knowledge, beliefs, feelings, and actions in regard to a wide range of personal skills, abilities, and interests. Automatically graded self-scoring exercises generate immediate, individual analysis that allows you to compare your results to those of others taking the assessment, This single volume of fifty research-based instruments is organized into three parts—What About Me? Working with Others, and Life in Organizations—and offers you one source from which to learn more about yourself. Following are some examples of assessments included in S.A.L., 3.0.:

• What's My Basic Personality?
• What Are My Attitudes Toward Workplace Diversity?
• What's My Decision-Making Style?
• What's My Emotional Intelligence Score?
• Do I Trust Others?
• What's My Negotiating Style?
• Am I Experiencing Work-Family Conflict?
• What Motivates Me?

NEW FEATURES

• additional research-based instruments are included in S.A.L. 3.0.
• New save feature allows students to easily create an assessment portfolio.
• When taking the self-assessments online, students can view their own results instantly, and also see how their results compare to their class and to students around the world. Instructors can access view them both textually and graphically, and compare their class to students around the world.
• A completely revamped Instructor's Manual guides instructors in interpreting students' results—facilitating class discussions of results.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

This book was created as an alternative to the 600- or 700-page comprehensive textbook in organizational behavior (OB). It attempts to provide balanced coverage of all the key elements comprising the discipline of OB, in a style that readers will find both informative and interesting. I'm pleased to say that this text has achieved a wide following in short courses and executive programs, and in traditional courses as a companion volume with experiential, skill development, case, and readings books. It is currently used at more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. It's also been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Danish, and Bahasa Indonesian.

RETAINED FROM THE PREVIOUS EDITION

What do people like about this book? Surveys of users have found general agreement about the following features. Needless to say, they've all been retained in this edition.

• Length. Since its inception in 1984, I've tried diligently to keep this book in the range of 325-350 pages. Users tell me this length allows them considerable flexibility in assigning supporting materials and projects.
• Balanced topic coverage. Although short in length, this book continues to provide balanced coverage of all the key concepts in OB. This includes not only traditional topics such as personality, motivation, and leadership; but also cutting-edge issues such as emotions, trust, work/life balance, workplace spirituality, and knowledge management.
• Writing style. This book is frequently singled out for the fluid writing style and extensive use of examples. Users regularly tell me that they find this book "conversational," "interesting," "student friendly," and "very clear and understandable."
• Practicality. This book has never been solely about theory. It's about using theory to better explain and predict the behavior of people in organizations. In each edition of this book, I have focused on making sure that readers see the link between OB theories, research, and implications for practice.
• Absence of pedagogy. Part of the reason I've been able to keep this book short in length is that it doesn't include review questions, cases, exercises, or similar teaching/learning aids. This book continues to provide only the basic core of OB knowledge, allowing instructors the maximum flexibility in designing and shaping their courses.
• Integration of globalization, diversity, and ethics. As shown in Exhibit A, the topics of globalization and cross-cultural differences, diversity, and ethics are discussed throughout this book. Rather than being presented in stand-alone chapters, these topics have been woven into the context of relevant issues. Users tell me they find that this integrative approach makes these topics more fully part of OB and reinforces their importance.
• Comprehensive supplements. While this book may be short in length, it's not short on supplements. It comes with a complete, high-tech support package for both faculty and students. This includes a comprehensive instructor's manual and Test Item File; a dedicated Web site ( www.prenhall.com/robbins); an Instructor's Resource CD-ROM, including the computerized Test Item File, instructor's manual, and PowerPoint slides; and the Robbins' Self-Assessment Library, which provides students with insights into their skills, abilities, and interests. These supplements are described in detail later in this Preface.

NEW TO THE EIGHTH EDITION

This eighth edition has been updated in terms of research, examples, and topic coverage. It is also one chapter shorter than the previous edition. New material in this edition includes:

• Expanded coverage of globalization and workforce diversity (Chapter 1)
• Working in networked organizations (Chapter 1)
• OB's role in improving customer service (Chapters 1 and 14)
• GLOBE framework for assessing national cultures (Chapter 2)
• Expanded coverage of MBTI (Chapter 3)
• Job design is now discussed under motivation (Chapter 4)
• Job redesign and scheduling programs are now covered under applied motivation (Chapter 5)
• Motivating a diversified workforce (Chapter 5)
• Behavioral decision making, including new material on overconfidence, anchoring, confirmation bias, and hindsight bias (Chapter 6)
• Differences in decision-making styles between genders (Chapter 6)
• Psychological contract (Chapter 7)
• Revised section on status (Chapter 7)
• Revised section on creating effective teams (Chapter 8)
• Ethics of forced team participation (Chapter 8)
• Role of teams in quality management (Chapter 8)
• When teams are appropriate and when they're not (Chapter 8)
• Revised communication model (Chapter 9)
• Instant messaging (Chapter 9)
• Dark side of charismatic leadership (Chapter 10)
• Emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness (Chapter 10)
• Ethical leadership (Chapter 10)
• Cross-cultural leadership (Chapter 10)
• Revised discussion on bases of power (Chapter 11)
• Employee responses to organizational politics (Chapter 11)
• Gender differences in negotiation style (Chapter 12)
• Ethics in negotiation (Chapter 12)
• Career development (Chapter 15)
• Appreciative inquiry (Chapter 16)

Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 8th edition (January 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131445715
• ISBN-13: 978-0131445710
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #475,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen P. Robbins (Ph.D., University of Arizona) is professor emeritus of management at San Diego State University and the world's best-selling textbook author in the areas of both management and organizational behavior. His books are used at more than a thousand U.S. colleges and universities and have been translated into 19 languages.

In Dr. Robbins' "other life," he participates in masters' track competitions. Since turning 50 in 1993, he has set numerous indoor and outdoor age-group world sprint records. He has won more than a dozen indoor and outdoor U.S. championships at 60m, 100m, 200m, and 400m, and won eleven gold medals at World Masters Track Championships. In 2005, Dr. Robbins was elected into the USA Masters' Track & Field Hall of Fame.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written and solid intro to the field of Org Behavior, July 12, 2004

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essentials of Organizational Behavior (Paperback)

"Essentials in Organizational Behavior" is a solid text for a course surveying the field of Organizational Behavior. Its sixteen chapters are grouped into four parts. Part I introduces the field of organizational behavior, its goals and functions within an organization along with some challenges and opportunities.

Part II contains chapters two through six and focuses on how individuals function within an organization and the considerations managers need to have with values, personality, motivation, emotions, and how individuals make decisions.

Part III contains chapters seven through twelve and discusses groups in the organization. It begins discussion foundations of group behavior, some basics on work teams, communication, leadership & creating trust, power & politics, conflict & negotiation.

Part IV discusses the Organization System in chapters thirteen through sixteen. It begins with the foundations of organizational structure, culture, and then gets into the role of human resource policies and practices. The book concludes with Organizational Change and Development.

There is an epilogue to wrap things up, endnotes, and index and a glossary.

The book is clearly written. I like the way the author presents a variety of views and theories and never becomes dogmatic about a certain approach. Because it is concise it actually has a chance of being read (the usual 750 page textbook is largely left unread in most courses). However, to really become proficient in any of the many topics presented here the student will have to do much more study and practical work. I am confident that any teacher adopting the text for coursework would make the necessity for further study clear to the student. The endnotes do provide many fine sources for such study, but I would like to have seen some sources organized into a list of readings for study organized by topic. It would have added a few pages, but would not have overburdened this text.

In any case, this is a good introductory read for anyone who wants to a quick tour of the universe of Organizational Behavior.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall a very good book, December 8, 2005

By 

N. Saxena (MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essentials of Organizational Behavior (Paperback)

This is a very well written book. I used this book as part of my MBA program. No frills or fluff - just goes right to the point and explains it well in relatively fewer words. Also helped me tremendously in my job and the knowledge gained from this book does helps me in doing a better job. A must read for all managers.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, October 4, 2010

By 

MP - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essentials of Organizational Behavior (Paperback)

I received the book in approximately 2 weeks after order date (ordered before a holiday weekend). The book is in great condition, and I am very satisfied with the whole experience.