MGCR 222 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Psychological Types, Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Trait Theory

• School: McGill University
• Department: Management Core
• Course: MGCR 222
• Professor: Chantal Westgate

Document Summary

Chapter 3: understanding individual attributes: diversity and surface characteristics. The organization in which we work and interact include a variety of people. Each person has unique attributes, such as the surface-level characteristics (race, ethnicity, age, gender, ) as well as deep-level or international characteristics (abilities, personality, ). Diversity is a state of having or being composed of differing attributes. Diversity among people in an organization can cause problems and it can also present opportunities. The social categorization theory proposes that we use characteristics to categorize others into groups, and this shapes our attitudes and behavior toward them. This theory supports the perspective that differences can contribute to misunderstandings, discomfort, poor communication, and conflict. Whereas conventional ob increasingly recognizes the value of diversity in contributing to organizational goals, sustainable ob is more likely to celebrate diversity and emphasize the uniqueness of people regardless of their instrumental value.