Introduction

Contributions of the
psychology to the functioning
and management of
organizations
Stakeholders
 Marian Luncasu, PhD Candidate, Management (OB); BAA
Psychology
 Office hours: Tuesday, 13.00-16.00
 On appointment: marian.luncasu@hec.ca
 Course materials:
 MBTI ® STEP I FORM M (self-scorable)
 Sniderman, P. R., Bulmash, J., Nelson, D. L., Campbell Quick, J.
Managing Organizational Behavior in Canada, 2007, Toronto:
Thomson Canada, 595 p.
 Recommanded: Estelle M. Morin and Caroline Aubé (2006).
Psychologie et management (2nd edition). Montréal. Chenelière
Éducation, ISBN 2-7650-1283-0.
 Cases and exercises will be available on line.
 Evaluations
 Mid-Term Exam (30 %)
 Mid-Term Exam will be focused on notions seen in class as well as readings.
 Team work (2 students) (20 %)
 A team of 2 students will conduct a study on MOTIVATION
 Data collection
 approved method of data collection: semi-structured interview
 the due date is the fifth week of classes.
 how the team will collect the data
 explain which theme will be explored in the final report. (3 pages maximum,
double line)
 Final research
 This research paper illustrates the results of the data collection and of an
exhaustive analysis of those results. (10 pages maximum, times new roman,
double space)
 Final exam (50%)
 Final Exam will be focused on notions seen in class as well as readings.
 Case study, four questions, one page each
Course objectives
 Recognize and respect the diversity in
people and the individual differences
 Understand the way of thinking and the
attitudes of others
 Show innitiative, energy and
perseverence in work
 Have a positive attitude toward
learning, personal accomplishment and
health
Main themes
1. Personality
2. Perception
3. Motivation
4. Adaptation
5. Learning
6. Human relations
7. Social influence
8. Working teams
THEME 1. Personality : Understanding
individual differences

 Different models to describe personality

 Different theories of personality development
 Personality, individual differences and work

 Readings :

 Jung, C.G. (1991) A Psychological theory of types.

 Sniderman et al. (2007):
 Chapter 3 - Introduction to Personality (pp. 89-99) 
THEME 2. Perception : Understanding
different points of view
 Consciousness and knowledge
 Sensation, perception and cognition
 Representations and mental operations
 Perceptual biases
 Empathy : understanding other’s point of view

 Readings :
 Laing , R.D., Phillipson H., Lee, R.A. (1966). Interaction and
interexperience in dyads.
 Readings in Sniderman et al. (2007):
 Chapter 3 - Introduction to Social Perception (pp. 79-88)
THEME 3. Motivation : Finding meaning in
work

 Different theories of human motivation 

 Motivation and related concepts
 Applications to work

 Readings :
 Maslow, A.H (1971). On Low Grumbles, High Grumbles
and Metagrumbles.
 Readings in Sniderman et al. (2007):
 Chapter 4 - Motivation at Work (pp. 106-128)
 Chapter 2 - Creating a Positive Work Environment:
Attitudes, Values, Ethics (pp. 34-74)
THEME 4. Adaptation : Reaching for
balance

 Stress and emotions

 Sources and consequences of stress
 Adaptation strategies
 Applications to work

 Readings : 
 May, R. (1977). Anxiety and Fear.
 Selected Readings in Sniderman et al. (2007):
 OBXtra 1 - Stress and Well-being at Work (pp. 513-524)
 OBXtra 2 - Emotional Intelligence (pp. 525- 532)
THEME 5. Learning : Learning to learn

 What means learning?

 Different approaches to learn
 To learn is to change
 Learning to learn; applications to work
  Readings :
 Kolb, D.A. (1984) The process of experiential learning.
 Selected Readings in Sniderman et al. (2007):
 Chapter 8 - Creativity and Decision-Making (pp. 232-269)
 Chapter 13 - Organizational Change and Development (pp. 396-425)
 Chapter 15 - Performance Management (website only:
www.sniderman.nelson.com)

OBXtra 3 - Behaviour Modification (pp. 533-538) 
THEME 6. Human relations : Building
positive professional relationships
 The dynamics of human relation
 Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
 Barriers to Effective Communication
 Interpersonal Conflicts in Organization
 Strategies for Effective Interpersonal Communication
 Readings :
 Rogers, C.R., Farson, R.E. (1995) Active listening.
 Selected Readings in Sniderman et al. (2007):
 Chapter 6 - Interpersonal and Organization-Wide Communication
(pp. 166-195)
 Chapter 11 - Conflict Management (pp. 330-361)
THEME 7. Social influence : Achieving
collaboration at work
 Four forms of social influence : normalization,
conformity, obedience and innovation
 Individual Sources/Bases of Power
 Types of Leadership and Subordination
 Leadership and management
 Readings :
 Moscovici, S. (1976). Behavioural Style.
 Selected Readings in Sniderman et al. (2007):
 Chapter 9 - Power and Influence (pp. 270-297)
 Chapter 10 - Leadership (pp.298-329)
THEME 8. Small groups : Working in a team

 What is a Team?
 Types of Teams
 Team Development
 Team Effectiveness
  Readings :
  Leavitt, H.J. (1974). Suppose we took groups seriously…
 Selected Readings in Sniderman et al. (2007):
 Chapter 7 - Team Dynamics and Effectiveness (pp. 196-231)
 OBXtra 4 - Self-Managed Work Teams (pp. 539-542)
 OBXtra 5 - Managing in a Virtual World (pp. 543-548)
Skills and abilities required in
organizations
Confernce Board of Canada (2000)

 Basic skills:  Team skills

 Communicate
 Information treatment
 Calculus
 Problem solving
 Personal management
skills
 Positive attitude
 Responsibility (planning and
managing personal
resources: time, money,
etc.)
 Flexibility
 Constant learning
 Concern for personal and
collective health
 Cooperation and
coordination
 Giving positive
(constructive) feed-back
 Understanding conflict and
finding solutions to it
 Acknowledging, accepting
and encouraging diversity
of opinions
 Learn to listen in order to be
able to learn
 Learn to make compromises for
better group results
 Adopting a group strategy
 Assuming leadership
Four main approaches in
psychology
 Analytical-psychodynamic
 Cognitive-behavioural
 Systemic-Interactional
 Existential-humanistic
Analytic-psychodynamic
approach
(psycho-analysis)

 S. Freud, A. Adler, M. Klein, C.G. Jung, E.

Erikson, J. Lacan
 Explanatory factors: biology
 Focus: Childhood (from birth to 6)
 Principle: Pleasure
 Change: Vertical stages
 Management: interpersonal dynamic
and leadership (Kets de Vries, Lapierre,
Levinson, Zaleznik, etc.)
Cognitive-behavioural
approach
(OB - mainstream)

 B. F. Skinner, A. Bandura, J. Piaget, U. Neisser

 Focus: Cognitive processes (attention, perception,
representation, memory, reasoning, language, learning)
 Explanatory factors : Environment
 Principle: Adaptation
 Change: Association and equilibration of
structures
 Management: organisational behaviour
 Micro-OB: satisfaction, motivation, leadership,
decision making, work organization, etc.)(Locke,
O’Reilly, Vroom, etc.)
 Macro-OB (a more sociological approach): strategy,
organizational climate, orgz. culture, orgz. learning,
power
Systemic-interactional
approach (Theory of Job Design, Socio-technical School)

 W. Köhler, K. Lewin, F. S. Perls

 The gestalt (the whole is greater than the sum of its
parts)
 Explanatory factors : Person-environement
 Principle: the interactions between person and
environment
 Change: reconfiguration of the forces within
the system (ex. maturation, learning, reforme)
 Management: organisational behaviour (work
teams, motivation, learning, leadership,
organizational change) (Hackman & Oldham,
Katz & Kahn, Weick, etc.)
Existential-humanistic
approach
(The school of human relations)

 V. Frankl (logotherapy, the will of meaning), G.

Allport, A. H. Maslow, C. R. Rogers
 Explanatory factors: biological, social spiritual
 Focus: The Being in its becoming
 Principle: The meaning
 Change: Transformation (mutation, creation,
revolution)
 Management: The school of Human Relations,
the informal relations, motivation and
satisfaction, work climate, interpersonal
dynamic, group, leadership, crises, change)(F.
Hertzberg, R. Likert, D. Mc Gregor, Lawler,
Mitroff and Pauchant, etc.)
Human behaviour
Defenses
Frustration
Learning

Stress

Perception Motivation
The equation of behaviour

Bt = F (P, E)t

 B, behavior
 P, person
 E, environnement
 t, time