Organizational Behavior – The Individual

1. You are the manager of a small team of 11 software developers who have been working together successfully for three years. Seven of the employees are in your office, while the other 4 are in a time zone 7 hours behind you. Your company has decided that to cut costs, all employees will now work remotely. You have worked hard to build and maintain a positive work environment for your staff and you pride yourself on employing positive OB techniques. You have been given ample budget to purchase needed distant technologies to keep the team high functioning. Explain how you would work to employ the same OB tactics with a remote team. Include examples of how other organizations have successfully – or unsuccessfully – transitioned in-office OB to remote OB.

2. Explain in your own words – and drawing from your own experiences – how stereotypes function in today’s workplace. Do you think stereotyping is always a bad thing or can it sometimes be a good thing? Have you found yourself using stereotypes in the workplace or while engaging in activities such as shopping (I.e., finding a female store clerk to ask where the baby clothing is, or asking a male store clerk where to find a wrench, etc.)

3. The textbook addresses the main causes of job satisfaction, per a Gallup poll. Create a new chart that shows the characteristics you most align with and the percentage for each. Then explain how, and to what extent, these things have impacted your current and past jobs. Use specific examples.

4. Explain the most satisfying job you have ever had and why. Be sure to include the impact of all aspects of the job, including: stress, pay, co-workers, benefits, manager, work space, room for growth, etc.