Organizational Behaviour

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Learning is modification of behaviour through practices, training or experience. It is an

important input in individual behaviour.
2. Four theories explain how learning takes place. The four models are - classical
conditioning, operant conditioning, cognitive learning, and social learning.
3. Learning principles need to be observed in any training programme. The principles are -
motivation, reinforcement, learning curves, meaningfulness of material and learning
styles.
4. Learning is an important component of OB because of its impact on individual behaviour
5. Just as there is learning by an individual, there is organizational learning too.
 Learning
Learning
Any relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as
a result of experience.

Learning
Learning
••Involves
Involveschange
change
••IsIsrelatively
relativelypermanent
permanent
••IsIsacquired
acquiredthrough
throughexperience
experience
Theories of Learning
 Theories of Learning
Classical Conditioning
A type of conditioning in which an individual responds to some
stimulus that would not ordinarily produce such a response.

Key
KeyConcepts
Concepts
••Unconditioned
Unconditionedstimulus
stimulus
••Unconditioned
Unconditionedresponse
response
••Conditioned
Conditionedstimulus
stimulus
••Conditioned
Conditionedresponse
response
Classical Conditioning
 Theories of Learning (cont’d)

Operant Conditioning
A type of conditioning in which desired voluntary behavior leads to a
reward or prevents a punishment.

Key
KeyConcepts
Concepts
••Reflexive
Reflexive(unlearned)
(unlearned)behavior
behavior
••Conditioned
Conditioned(learned)
(learned)behavior
behavior
••Reinforcement
Reinforcement
 Theories of Learning (cont’d)
Social-Learning Theory
People can learn through observation and direct
experience.

Key
KeyConcepts
Concepts
••Attentional
Attentionalprocesses
processes
••Retention
Retentionprocesses
processes
••Motor
Motorreproduction
reproductionprocesses
processes
••Reinforcement
Reinforcementprocesses
processes
 Theories of Learning (cont’d)

Shaping Behavior
Systematically reinforcing each successive step that moves an
individual closer to the desired response.

Key
KeyConcepts
Concepts
••Reinforcement
Reinforcementisisrequired
requiredto
tochange
changebehavior.
behavior.
••Some
Somerewards
rewardsare
aremore
moreeffective
effectivethan
thanothers.
others.
••The
Thetiming
timingof
ofreinforcement
reinforcementaffects
affectslearning
learningspeed
speedand
and
permanence.
permanence.
 Types of Reinforcement

• Positive reinforcement
– Providing a reward for a desired behavior.

• Negative reinforcement
– Removing an unpleasant consequence when the desired behavior
occurs.

• Punishment
– Applying an undesirable condition to eliminate an undesirable
behavior.

• Extinction
– Withholding reinforcement of a behavior to cause its cessation.
 Schedules of Reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement
A desired behavior is reinforced each time
it is demonstrated.

Intermittent Reinforcement
A desired behavior is reinforced often
enough to make the behavior worth
repeating but not every time it is
demonstrated.
 Schedules of Reinforcement (cont’d)

Fixed-Interval Schedule
Rewards are spaced at uniform time
intervals.

Variable-Interval Schedule
Rewards are initiated after a fixed or
constant number of responses.
Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement
 Behavior Modification

OB Mod
The application of reinforcement concepts to individuals
in the work setting.

Five
FiveStep
StepProblem-Solving
Problem-SolvingModel
Model
1.
1. Identify
Identifycritical
criticalbehaviors
behaviors
2.
2. Develop
Developbaseline
baselinedata
data
3.
3. Identify
Identifybehavioral
behavioralconsequences
consequences
4.
4. Develop
Developand
andapply
applyintervention
intervention
5.
5. Evaluate
Evaluateperformance
performanceimprovement
improvement
 OB MOD Organizational Applications

• Well Pay versus Sick Pay

– Reduces absenteeism by rewarding attendance, not absence.

• Employee Discipline
– The use of punishment can be counter-productive.

• Developing Training Programs

– OB MOD methods improve training effectiveness.

• Self-management
– Reduces the need for external management control.