Values in Organisation Behaviour
Learning objectives
• Meaning
• Importance
• Characteristics
• Types
• Factors influencing Values
A simple question
• Is capital punishment is good or bad?
• Some of you will say “Yes” as you believe it is
perfect for serious crimes like murder.
• On the other side some of you will say "No"
as they believe that no one has the right to
take someone life.
• Now the question is “Why there is a
difference in the answers?” is because of
value which a person hold.
Meaning
• A value system is viewed as a relatively
permanent perceptual frame work which
influences the nature of an individual’s behavior.
The values are the attributes possessed —by an
individual and thought desirable. Values are
similar to attitude but are more permanent and
well built in nature.
• Values are generally, tinged with moral flavor and
they contain a judgmental element, involving an
individual's idea as to what is right, good,
desirable.
Importance
• Values lay the foundations for the understanding of attitudes and
motivation.
• Personal value system influences the perception of individuals
• Personal value system influences the way in which a manager
views the other individuals and the groups of individuals in the
organisation.
• Value system also influences a manager's decisions and his
solutions to the various problems.
• An individual will get more job satisfaction if his values align with
the organization's policies. If the organization's policies are
different from his views and values, he will be disappointed; the
disappointment will lead to job dissatisfaction and decline in
performance.
Characteristics
• Values provide standards of competence and morality.
• Values are fewer in number than attitudes.
• Values transcend specific objects, situations or persons.
• Values are relatively permanent and resistant to change.
• Values are most central to the core of a person.
• Values have two attributes-content and intensity. The
content attribute stresses that a particular mode of
conduct is important. The intensity attribute specifies how
important it is.
• When we rank an individual's values in terms of their
intensity. We obtain the value system of that person.
Types-Milton Rokeach Classification
• An extensive research conducted by the
noted psychologist Milton Rokeach, identifies
two basic types of values.
Terminal Instrumental
Values Values
Terminal Value
• A terminal value is an ultimate goal in a
desired status or outcome. These lead to the
ends to be achieved.
• Some of the examples are —
❑ Comfortable life ❑ True friendship
❑ Sense of accomplishment ❑ A world of peace
❑ Family security ❑ A world of beauty
❑ Mature love ❑ Equality
❑ Self respect ❑ Happiness
❑ Wisdom ❑ Inner Harmony
❑ Exciting life ❑ National Security
❑ Freedom ❑ Pleasure
❑ Social recognition ❑ Salvation
Instrumental values
• Instrumental values relate to means for
achieving desired ends. It is a tool for
acquiring a terminal value.
• Some examples are-
❑ Ambitious ❑ Imaginative
❑ Broad minded ❑ Independent
❑ Capable ❑ Intellectual
❑ Cheerful ❑ Logical
❑ Clean ❑ Loving
❑ Courageous ❑ Obedient
❑ Forgiving ❑ Polite
❑ Helpful ❑ Responsible
❑ Honest ❑ Self controlled
Factor Influencing values
1. Family Factors-
– The most important factor which influences the value
system of an individual is his immediate family}
2. Social Factors
– Out of all the social factors school plays the most
important role in developing the value system of an
individual. The child learns the basic discipline from
the school. Moreover, the interactions with the
teachers, classmates and other staff members in the
schools and colleges make the child inculcate values
important to the teaching-learning process
..Factor Influencing values
3. Cultural Factors
– Cultural factors include everything that is learned and
passed on from generation to generation. Culture includes
certain beliefs and other patterns of behaviour. An
individual is a participant in social culture, group culture
and organisational culture.
4. Life Experience
– A man learns the most from his own personal life
experience. Sometimes man can learn from the experience
of others also. In the long run, most of the values which
influence our behavior are validated by the satisfaction we
have experienced in pursuing them. Individuals work out
their values on the basis of what seems most logical to
them.
..Factor Influencing values
5. Personal factors
– personal traits such as intelligence, ability,
appearance and educational level of the person
determine his-development of values.
6. Role Demand
– The role demand refers to the behaviour associated
with a particular position in the organisation. All
organisations have some formal and some informal
code of behaviour. Role demand can create problems
when there is a role conflict. Thus, the managers will
have to quickly learn the value system prevalent in
the organisation