Exam 1: Making OB Work for Me

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At first glance the contingency perspective may look like simple common sense.But it's different.It attempts to overcome the limits of common sense with how it does not settle for traditional options if another solution may be more practical and effective.Similarly,understanding the systems approach to issues provides more insight than common sense alone.The goal of OB is to give you more than common sense and instead enhance your understanding of situations at work and guide your behaviors.
Moreover,common sense has three main weaknesses that you need to consider and avoid.
(1)Overreliance on hindsight.Common sense excels in well-known scenarios with predictable outcomes.But much of modern business involves uncertainty and adapting to change.In other words,common sense is especially weak in responding to the unknown or unexpected.And because it focuses on the past,common sense lacks vision for the future.
(2)Lack of rigor.If we are comfortable with our common-sense response,we may not apply the effort required to find the real problem when considering inputs,which likely results in not choosing the optimal course of action or solution.If you lack rigor,then you are unlikely to measure the right predictors and outcomes.
(3)Lack of objectivity.Common sense can be overly subjective and lack a basis in science.In such cases we are not always able to explain our reasoning to others,let alone apply it to new situations.One way that OB moves beyond the limitations of common sense is by its systematic and science-based approach to understanding people and how they behave at work.OB therefore can make you more attractive to potential employers and more effective once employed.