Organizational behavior deals with how people behave in the work process that takes place in institutions. The effort to understand people’s behavior and respond to it appropriately is closely linked to the success of managers and other workers in the organization.
The modern world is a world of organizations created by people so they can achieve goals that individuals cannot achieve on their own. The processes that occur in these organizations are also carried out by people. On this basis, one can point to the irreplaceable role of the human being and his importance for the effective functioning of the organization. Organizational behavior also deals with managerial work. Its content also includes issues related to leading people, their motivation, decision-making, communication, handling conflicts at work, and so on. Therefore, organizational behavior is an integral part of the study programs of every major educational institution that offers educational programs in management.

The presented textbook, Organizational Behavior: From Theory to Practice, is intended primarily for master’s students at the Faculty of Management of the University of Prešov, as well as students of other higher education institutions with a similar focus. The individual chapters are designed so that students—future managers—develop their personality, creativity, spontaneity, communication skills, team cooperation abilities, self-awareness, and other qualities needed in everyday life. At the same time, they acquire knowledge and skills through personal and lived experience, by which they remember them much more quickly. Through direct and active participation in exploratory and creative activity, a much more complex cognitive cycle is activated in them, in which new material is processed not only as new information but as an experience and personal learning.

This book is designed as a textbook suitable for use in seminars. Individual stories, questionnaires, and tests are complemented by theoretical knowledge, which should contribute to applying the acquired knowledge in practice. Tasks and questions are structured so as to develop students’ thinking and teach them to apply acquired knowledge in everyday life.

The publication by PaedDr. Zuzana Birknerová, PhD, “Organizational Behavior: From Theory to Practice” covers ten key selected areas of managerial activity related to organizational behavior. Each of these areas is presented in a structure: entry into the topic in broader theoretical context, practical examples in the form of a case study, methodology for collecting data in this area, a characterization of a seminar activity for students, integration of practiced competencies, tips, and generalization of findings in the form of a summary. We consider this structure very suitable from both teaching and manager training perspectives. For teaching students, training managers, and delivering various courses, it is a very effective approach. The author also supplements the text with a list of appropriate professional literature for readers who would like to expand their knowledge base in this area.

We consider the presented publication to be a meaningful and suitable material for both university teaching and for practical use in the implementation of courses, trainings, and management training sessions.

doc. PhDr. Miroslav Frankovský, CSc.
Katedra manažérskej psychológie
FM PU v Prešove

About the Author: PaedDr. Zuzana Birknerová, PhD. works at the Faculty of Management of the University of Prešov at the Department of Managerial Psychology as a professional assistant. She is engaged in research methodology and the issue of organizational behavior. Contact: zbirknerova@unipo.sk

CONTENT:

ÚVOD
1 PERSONALITY AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR
2 SOCIAL PERCEPTION
3 INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL MOTIVATION
4 GROUP BEHAVIOR AND WORK TEAMS
5 DECISION-MAKING
6 INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION IN THE ORGANIZATION
7 CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
8 PEOPLE MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
9 CHANGES IN ORGANIZATIONS
10 ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE
EPILOGUE
REFERENCES

© Author: PaedDr. Zuzana Birknerová, PhD.
Katedra manažérskej psychológie
Fakulta manažmentu Prešovskej univerzity v Prešove

Reviewers:
prof. Ing. Ján Porvazník, CSc.
doc. Mgr. Ing. Milan Droppa, PhD.
doc. PhDr. Miroslav Frankovský, CSc.

Approved by the editorial board of the Faculty of Management of the University of Prešov.
In the publishing plan as a higher-education textbook.

Published by: Via Bibliotheca, s.r.o., Pezinok, 2011
Editor-in-chief: Bc. Darina Jakubovie
Language editor: PhDr. PaedDr. Martina Ferencová, PhD.
Number of pages: 204

© VIA BIBLIOTHECA, s.r.o.
ISBN 978-80-89527-01-4

Order
The above book can be ordered at http://www.viakniha.sk or by email at info@viakniha.sk.