PSYCHOLOGY FOR MANAGERS
Ch 1 Introduction to OB
SHORT:
1. Define OB.
2. Explain Max Weber’s Bureaucratic model.
3. What are the contributing disciplines of OB?
OR
Discuss the disciplines of OB.
OR
Explain the significance and contribution of various disciplines to the field of OB.
4. What is the role of sociology and anthropology in understanding the OB.
LONG:
1. What is OB? Discuss the various theories/models of OB.
2. ‘OB represents interaction among individuals, groups and the organization.’ Elucidate
this statement.
3. Define OB. Explain various challenges and opportunities for organizational behavior.
4. What is OB? What is its scope? What is the necessity of studying this subject?
5. Define OB. Explain the need and importance of organizational behavior in today’s
multicultural workforce environment.
6. A) factors influencing OB.
B) Various approaches to the study of OB.
Ch 2 Individual behavior:
SHORT:
1. What is individual behavior?
2. How can a manager influence the behavior of an employee?
3. What is the significance of biographical characteristics on individual behaviour?
4. Discuss psychological factors which affect individual behavior.
LONG:
1. Explain the various factors that determine individual behavior in an organization.
2. What do you understand by MARS theory of individual behavior. Explain its dimensions
in detail.
3. Outline the various models of individual behavior.
4. Outline the components of Individual behavior which has a bearing on the effectiveness
of OB.
Ch 3 Personality:
SHORT:
1. Explain the term locus of control.
2. What are the major factors that determine individual’s personality?
3. Explain Big Five personality traits.
4. Explain the characteristics of personality.
5. Explain the maturity-immaturity theory of Carl Argyris.
LONG:
1. What is the significance of understanding the personality of an individual in an
organization? Explain with examples.
2. What is personality? What are its major determinants?
3. What is personality? How culture and family determine the development of personality?
4. Define personality. Critically examine the BIG FIVE theory of personality and its
significance.
5. Discuss the various theories of personality.
6. Explain the concept of personality. How does it determine the behavior of an individual?
Ch 4 Perception:
SHORT:
1. Define perception and explain the nature of perception.
2. Explain the barriers to perceptual accuracy.
3. Distinguish between Attitude and Perception.
4. Halo Effect - explain.
5. Discuss perceptual selectivity.
6. Explain the process.of perception.
7. What do you understand by perceptual errors?
LONG:
1. Define Perception. Explain its process and its implications in the study of O.B.
2. Define Perception. Outline its process and principles. Also discuss the limitations to
perception.
3. How far do you think it is important to understand individual perception? Discuss its
process and principles in detail.
4. How does selectivity affect perception? Give example how selectivity can create
perceptual distortion.
5. Discuss the steps which you would take as a manager to reduce perceptual errors as you
appraise the performance of your subordinates.
6. Discuss the salient features of perceptional process model.
Ch 5 & 6 ATTITUDES AND VALUES:
SHORT:
1. What are the different types of values that determine individual behavior at the
workplace?
2. Explain components of attitude.
3. Discuss ABC model of attitude.
4. Explain significance of values in O.B.
5. Distinguish between Attitude and Perception.
6. Importance of values & attitudes in O.B.
7. Write a note on values and attitudes.
LONG:
1. What do you understand by individual values? Discuss the various workplace values that
have evolved over a period of time in organizations and their significance in
understanding the psychology of managers.
2. What are attitudes and its determinants? Discuss the significance of cognitive theory of
dissonance in understanding individual attitudes towards others.
3. What do you understand by value? What are the main characteristics of values?
4. What is the concept of attitude ? What are its features ? How is an attitude formed ?
5. What do you understand by attitude ? What are the sources of attitude ? How are
attitudes formed?
6. Define values. How are they different from attitudes? How can attitudes be measured?
7. What do you understand by the concept of attitudes? How do attitudes differ from
opinions, beliefs and values?
8. A) Components of Attitudes
B) Various theories of attitude formation.
Ch - 7 Motivation
SHORT:
1. Explain the hygiene and motivating factors.
2. Theory X and Theory Y.
3. What do you understood by motivation?
4. What is motivation ? Does it affect behavior?
5. How is intrinsic motivation different from extrinsic motivation.
6. What is the need of motivation ?
7. Explain Alderfer's ERG theory.
LONG:
1. Define motivation. Discuss the various theories of motivation and which one do you
think works best for Indian organizations.
Or
(a) Define Motivation Critically evaluate the various theories of Motivation.
(b) Which one do you think works well in today's context ?
2. Define Motivation. Compare and contrast Maslow Herzberg's and Mc Clelland's Theories
of Motivation.
3. Compare and contrast Maslow's need hierarchy theony with Herzberg's two factors
theory of motivation.
OR
'Non-financial incentives are as strong motivators as financial ones'. Critically examine
this statement in the light of Maslow's need hierarchy and Herzberg's two factor theories.
OR
Define motivation. How is Maslow's theorv of motivation similar and different from
Herzberg's theory of motivation ? Which one is better and why? Discuss.
4. Discuss the importance of motivation. Explain in detail the Maslow's Theory of need
hierarchy.
5. What are different types of motivation? Explain Maslow's need hierarchy theory of
motivation.
6. "Motivation is the core of management" Comment. Also Suggest measures that can be
used to. Motivate staff in a service industry.
7. Can motivation be increased? Explain various motivational factors used in an
undertaking.
8. Critically evaluate the importance of understanding content and the process theories of
motivation in understanding individual behavior in the organizations.
9. Discuss the relative importance of financial and non-financial incentives in motivation.
10. Why do you think is it important to keep your workforce motivated all the times?
Explain with the help of various theories of motivation.
CH – 8 MOTIVATIONAL TECHNIQUES
SHORT:
1. Discuss various motivational techniques.
2. Define Job enrichment.
LONG:
1. MBO is considered to be the most effective tool of organizational effectiveness. Explain
some of the contributions of the concept of MBO in motivating employees.
2. Explain in detail different tools of motivation.
CH -9 MORALE
SHORT:
1. What is the difference between morale and motivation?
2. Write a note on morale.
CH INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOUR AND TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS (TA)
SHORT:
1. Define Transactional Analysis (TA).
2. What is Interpersonal Behaviour?
3. What do you mean by life positions? Explain.
4. Write about the importance of interpersonal relationships.
LONG:
1. What do you understand by Transactional Analysis? Discuss its importance in improving
organizational effectiveness.
2. What do you mean by TA? What is its role and importance in reducing stress and conflict
in organization? Discuss in detail.
OR
What do you mean by TA? Explain its contribution in improvement of interpersonal
relationships.
3. What do you understand by Transactional Analysis? Discuss the different life positions in
Transactional analysis.
4. What is transactional Analysis? Discuss in detail its significance in improving and
conducting successful transactions at the workplace.
5. What is transactional analysis? How is it useful to a manager? Explain three ego states
and various types of transactions between two persons.
6. Explain the Stages in Interpersonal Behaviour.
CH 10 LEADERSHIP
SHORT:
1. List the important characteristics of leadership.
2. Distinguish between production oriented leader and people oriented leader.
3. Styles of Leadership
4. Blake and Moution's Managerial Grid.
5. Types of Leadership, Transactional Vs Transformation.
6. Discuss the trait theory of Leadership.
7. Explain laissez faire leader.
8. Which type of leadership style is more effective, in your opinion - autocratic or
democratic?
9. What is the contingency theory of leadership?
LONG:
1. "Leadership is situational". Do you agree with this statement? Explain in brief the various
theories of Leadership.
2. What is leadership? Discuss the trait theory and situation theory of leadership.
3. Describe the qualities of a leader. Explain the great man theory and trait theory of
leadership.
4. Define effective leadership. Critically evaluate the various theories of leadership. Which
one do you think relevant in the Indian context today?
5. Explain Behavioral theories of Leadership.
6. What do you understand by the term leadership? Enumerate its important characteristics.
7. Discuss the Fiedler's contingency theory of leadership in detail.
8. What do you understand by the term leadership? Explain different styles of leadership.
9. What do you think leaders are born or are they made? Give your view point on the basis
of the various theories of leadership.
CH 11 MANAGEMENT OF CONFLICT
SHORT:
1. What are the different stages of conflict?
2. Define conflict and give its various types.
3. Outline the stages of conflict. How can it be managed?
4. Discuss the various reasons for the group conflict in the organization.
5. Write a short note on Conflict Management.
6. Discuss the various types of conflict situations.
7. Write a note on causes of conflict.
8. Discuss traditional view of conflict.
9. Differentiate between teams and groups.
10. Explain the organizational and individual stressors at the workplace.
11. Define Eutress.
LONG:
1. How does intergroup conflict arise? What are its Consequences? How would you prevent
such conflicts?
OR
Discuss the various reasons for various types of conflict in the organization. Suggest
measures to resolve inter-group conflicts.
2. What is organization conflict? Discuss the various conflict resolution strategies which
can be used in the organizations.
3. What is organizational conflict? What are its causes and how can it be managed?
OR
What can be done to manage conflict?
4. Define Organizational Conflict. Discuss the process and strategies for managing conflict
in organizations.
5. What do you mean by Management of Conflicts? Discuss different types of conflict
situations.
6. Discuss modern view of conflict and its various types. How conflict should be resolved?
7. Why is it important to manage workplace conflict? Outline the strategies that can be
usually adopted for resolving conflict in organizations.
8. Define conflict. What is the difference between functional and dysfunctional conflict?
Outline the strategies to manage conflict in the organizations.
