An Introduction to the Dark Side

Organizational behavior is the study of human behavior in organi- zational settings. It is also a relatively young field of study, one that is still seeking to define its boundaries and determine its fundamental concepts and processes. In some ways, organizational behavior emerged as a counterpoint to the widespread popularity of Freder- ick Taylor's scientific management, an industrial engineering-based approach to management that emerged in the early 1900s (cf., Taylor, 1911). Scientific management was primarily focused on how man- agers could boost the productivity of workers through efficiency and standardization techniques such as time-and-motion study and piece- rate pay systems. In Taylor's view, the roles of individuals and groups in organizations were either ignored altogether or given only mini- mal attention.