When thinking back over the past fifteen years I am amazed by how many things have changed in the workplace. There was a time not so long ago when it was common for an employee to work their entire career for one company. An employee could expect to receive a decent pension plan upon retiring, and possibly even leave their career to a family member. Fifteen years ago it was also unheard of to have a computer on each desk, and to send e-mail thousands of miles across the globe. The employee-employer relationship has changed almost as quickly as technology in the workplace. A willingness to learn about organizational behavior (OB) will support companies and individuals to succeed in this fast-paced, ever changing world.
Organizational behavior can be defined as "the study of individuals and groups in organizations" (Schermerhorn, Hunt & Osborn, 2003, ch. 1, p. 2). In order to grow, one must be willing to change and much of the corporate restructuring, downsizing, and mergers of the 1980s utilized OB to determine how best to alter the organization for positive growth. …
