Organizational Behavior, Third Edition

Glossary

achievement motivation

The degree to which an individual desires to perform in terms of a standard of excellence or to succeed in competitive situations.

achievement-oriented leadership

Leadership behavior characterized by setting challenging goals and seeking to improve performance.

acute stress

A short-term stress reaction to an immediate threat.

affective commitment

Organizational commitment due to one's strong positive attitudes toward the organization.

agreeableness

The degree to which an individual is easygoing and tolerant.

ambidextrous organization

An organization structure that balances formalization and standardization to help to achieve efficiency and flexibility.

anchoring bias

A cognitive bias in which the first piece of information that is encountered about a situation is emphasized too much in making a decision.

approval motivation

The degree to which an individual is concerned about presenting himself or herself in a socially desirable way in evaluative situations.

ascribed status

Status and power that is assigned by cultural norms and depends on group membership.

aspiration–performance discrepancies

Gaps between what an individual, unit, or organization wants to achieve and what it is actually achieving.

associates

The workers who carry out the basic tasks.

attitude

A persistent tendency to feel and behave in a favorable or unfavorable way toward a specific person, object, or idea.

attitudinal structuring

Activities aimed at influencing the attitudes and relationships of the negotiating ...