Recommended topics for organisational behaviour curricula in South African business schools

Abstract

Man has progressed from the Stone Age to the present advanced technological era through the utilization of human resources. What has been achieved is the result of innovation and the efficient application of man's lalents. In the latter part of the 20th century this evolutionary process crystallized into the emergence of Organisational Behaviour studies. These were directed at achieving the maximum efficiency and productivity of the workforce in order to maximise profits. Led by the United States and closely followed by Europe and more recently the Pacific Rim States, the science of Organisational Behaviour has come to the fore. Organisational Behaviour is an academic discipline that is concerned with describing, understanding, predicting and controlling human behaiour in organisational settings (Hodgens and Altman, 1979, p. 387). It offers information about people at work and about what affects their performance. The writer believes that the successful application of Organisational Behaviour is one of the main contributing factors that led to the amazing upsurge of the Pacific Rim economy since World War II. Countries like South Korea moved from a totally peasant economy to one of the most advanced industrial nations in the world in a matter of two generations. It goes \vithout saying that South Africa can benefit from this example in its striving for wealth creation and the laying of firm foundations for the future South African economy. It is therefore essential that the business schools of South Africa introduce into their curricula the vital Organisational Behaviour topics emerging around the world. Managers and leaders of the 21st century have to be equipped with skills that will enable them to ulilize the maximum potential of the human resources available to them. The study of Organisational Behaviour provides the opportunity for managers and leaders to experience and analyse behaviour patterns. In doing so they will acquire skills which will enable them to develop a way of looking at people in organisations with insight and judgement. They will then hopefully bring out the inherent talents and skills of these people. 'No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge .... if he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.' (Kahil Gibran, The Profit) (Cohen, Gadon, Josefowitz, Fink and Willits, 1984, p.8.) In this Research Report the evolution of Organisational Behaviour is reviewed to reveal what topics were relevant at a specific period of time. Organisational Behaviour curricula obtained from American, English and Chinese business schools are used as criteria to judge the relevance of what is currently being taught in Organisational Behaviour curricula in South African business schools. In the light of new trends and developments in South Africa and the world, topics that should be included in revised Organisational Behaviour curricula in South African business schools are recommended.