Fundamentals of Perception in OB

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Questions and Answers

What role does corporate social responsibility (CSR) play in consumer behavior?

It increases consumer loyalty to organizations with CSR initiatives. (correct)

It has no impact on consumer decisions.

It discourages ethical company practices.

It reduces consumer choices.

Which factor can negatively influence ethical behavior within organizations?

Cleanliness of the workplace.

Encouragement of ethical discussions.

Presence of ethical guidelines.

Outward displays of wealth and status. (correct)

What is a common issue related to personal ethics in professional settings?

Employees always adhere to ethical standards.

Individuals may perceive themselves to be more moral than they are. (correct)

Personal ethics do not influence decision making.

Ethical dilemmas are rarely encountered.

Why is understanding cultural differences important in ethical decision making?

What is ethical in one culture may be unethical in another. Signup and view all the answers

In behavioral ethics, what is a key consideration for improving ethical decision making?

Discussing moral issues among employees. Signup and view all the answers

What unethical behavior is commonly practiced and undermines ethical decision making?

Bribery and corruption. Signup and view all the answers

How can managers help mitigate ethical dilemmas regarding bribery in different cultures?

By acknowledging cultural differences and promoting ethical standards. Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about utilitarianism in ethical decision making?

The principle focuses on outcomes that benefit the majority. Signup and view all the answers

What does utilitarianism primarily focus on in decision making?

Optimizing outcomes to provide the greatest good for all Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can significantly influence ethical decision making during a crisis?

Emotional and intuitive responses Signup and view all the answers

How do cultural factors impact utilitarian decision making?

Cultural norms shape the perception of what constitutes the 'greatest good.' Signup and view all the answers

What role do perceptions of justice play in decision making during a crisis?

They impact both employee attitudes and customer reactions. Signup and view all the answers

Why might expert credit-rating agencies provide overly negative ratings during a crisis?

They are influenced by emotional biases and crisis perceptions. Signup and view all the answers

In the moral dilemma regarding the train, what was the majority response among respondents across various cultures?

To push the heavy man off the bridge Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential limitation of utilitarian decision making in business?

It often overlooks individual rights and justice. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common effect of emotional strain on decision making during a crisis?

Decisions tend to be rushed and emotionally charged. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does answering in a nonnative language have on decision making?

It fosters a utilitarian viewpoint. Signup and view all the answers

What is a fundamental principle considered in ethical decision making?

Respecting individual liberties. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best exemplifies the criterion of fairness in business ethics?

Imposing rules impartially across all levels of the organization. Signup and view all the answers

Which challenge arises from satisfying individual rights and social justice in decision making?

It leads to more ambiguities than clear-cut utilitarian benefits. Signup and view all the answers

How do corporate decisions often justify questionable actions?

Through a utilitarian perspective. Signup and view all the answers

What is one key element affecting the ethical-decision making process?

Cultural influences shaping perceptions of ethics. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects the interrelatedness of ethical criteria?

Decision making involves multiple criteria that can influence one another. Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'ought to force' refer to in ethical decision making?

The feeling of obligation based on moral norms. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Fundamental of Perception

Perception is the process of organizing and interpreting sensory impressions to understand the environment.
Perception is crucial in Organizational Behavior (OB) because people's actions are based on their perceived reality, not objective reality.

Factors Influencing Perception

Perceiver: Attitudes, motives, interests, experience, and expectations shape how a person interprets a target. Personal characteristics (personality, motives, interests, past experiences, and expectations) influence interpretation.
Target: Novelty, motion, sounds, size, background, proximity, and similarity of a target influence perception. Relationships and groupings impact how we perceive targets.
Situation: The context of the perception (time, work setting, social setting) affects how we interpret targets. For instance, starting work earlier could be interpreted as more conscientious.

Observer Perceptions

Perceptions can be influenced by attitudes, often leading to inaccurate perceptions. For example, eyewitness accounts of a shooting varied greatly depending on the observer's perspective.
Accurate perceptions can be achieved by objective evaluations, but sometimes attitudes cloud the perception.

Target Characteristics

Target characteristics affect perceptions. We perceive targets in relation to their surroundings (background), and form groups of similar targets. Preconceived notions about groups influence how we perceive its members. For example, criminal record leads to prejudgments.
Sometimes, differing characteristics lead to a more favorable or positive perception.

Context/Situation

The time, location, lighting, and situational factors influence our attention to targets.
If an individual does not meet our expected standards, we tend to notice them more.

Person Perception: Making Judgments About Others

Attribution Theory: When observing others, we try to explain their behavior by determining if it's internally or externally caused.
Factors: Consistency, distinctiveness, and consensus help us attribute causes to behavior.
Example: If an employee is consistently late to work, is late only on Tuesdays, and other employees are not late, then we might attribute it to internal factors.
Distributions: Internal causation is when the cause of behavior is attributed to the person. Example is oversleeping. External attribution is when the cause of behavior is attributed to factors outside the person. Example is traffic.

Shortcuts in Judging Others

Selective Perception: We tend to notice things that stand out or that are relevant to us.
Halo Effect: A positive impression of one characteristic leads to positive impressions of other characteristics. For example, someone seen as intelligent may be seen as friendly too.
Horns Effect: A negative impression of one characteristic leads to negative impressions of other characteristics. For example, someone perceived as unkind may also be seen as unintelligent.
Contrast Effects: Perceptions are made by comparison.
Example: Judging an interview candidate based on previous applicants.

Stereotyping

Making judgments about an individual based on his/her group membership
Stereotypes may lead to biased decisions, which, in many cases affect organizational performance such as leadership styles.
Example: A study indicated that black defendants in murder trials were more likely to be given the death penalty if they looked 'stereotypically' black.

Employment Interview

Interviewers make perceptual judgments early in the interview process. First impressions are very significant.
Example: Inaccurate and biased impressions formed early in interviews are difficult to overcome.

Performance Evaluations

Performance evaluations are often subjective and influenced by perceptual errors (like halo effect, selective perception).
Example: Performance ratings may reflect the evaluator's perception rather than the employee's actual performance

Decision Making

Decision making is greatly influenced by perceptions.
Errors can lead to biased decision making.
Example: Perceptions can lead to wrong evaluations and perceptions.

Influences on Decision Making

Individual Differences: Personality (e.g., conscientiousness, self-esteem) affects decision-making styles and susceptibility to errors.
Organizational Constraints: Performance evaluations, reward systems, formal regulations, and time constraints affect decision-making processes.
Example: If an organization rewards risk-aversion, managers are likely to make conservative decisions.

Decision Making in Times of Crisis

Decision-making errors are more likely during periods of crisis because of significant uncertainties.
Example: The Covid-19 pandemic forced many difficult decisions, emphasizing the role of biases and emotional factors in decision making.

Ethics in Decision Making

Utilitarianism: Making decisions based on their best possible outcomes for the most people.
Fundamental Liberties and Privileges: Decision-making consistent with individual rights, such as freedom of speech.
Justice: Decisions made fairly and impartially, considering the equitable distribution of benefits and costs.

Lying

Lying is a common ethical problem.
Managers and employees often give false motives for actions.
Example: Bribery is common in certain cultures.

Cultural Differences

Cultural factors greatly influence decisions.
Example: Time orientation, rationality, and collectivism vary across cultures.

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Description

Explore the essential concepts of perception and its significance in Organizational Behavior. Understand how personal characteristics, target attributes, and situational factors shape our interpretations and interactions in the workplace. Test your knowledge and insight into the dynamics of perceptual processes.