What is perception in OB?
The process of interpreting sensory input to give meaning to the environment.
Why is perception important in OB?
Because behaviour is based on perceived reality, not actual reality — perceptions drive actions in the workplace.
What are the three components of perception?
- Target (the person/object being perceived).
- Situation (context).
- Perceiver (experience, motivation, emotions).
What is selective perception?
Seeing only what aligns with one’s frame of reference while ignoring other information.
What are the primacy and recency effects?
- Primacy: overreliance on first impressions.
- Recency: overreliance on the most recent information.
What is the central traits bias?
Judging others based on traits considered especially important to the perceiver.
What are implicit personality theories?
Beliefs about which personality traits naturally go together (e.g., “hard-working people are honest”).
What is projection in perception?
Attributing one’s own thoughts/feelings to others.
What is attribution?
The process of assigning causes/motives to explain people’s behaviour.
What is a dispositional attribution?
Explaining behaviour as due to internal traits, abilities, or personality.
What is a situational attribution?
Explaining behaviour as due to external environment or context.
What are the three attribution cues?
- Consistency: Does the person behave this way over time?
- Consensus: Do others behave the same way?
- Distinctiveness: Does the person behave this way across situations?
What is the fundamental attribution error?
Tendency to overemphasize dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors when judging others’ behaviour.
What is the self-serving bias?
Attributing successes to oneself (dispositional) and failures to external factors (situational).
What does Social Identity Theory state?
People form perceptions of themselves and others based on memberships in social categories (e.g., gender, nationality, student status).
What is stereotyping?
Generalizing about a group while ignoring individual differences.
What are the pros and cons of stereotyping?
- Pros: Simplifies decision-making, saves time.
- Cons: Inaccurate, creates bias, fuels discrimination.
What is unconscious (implicit) bias?
Automatic, non-conscious categorization of people that influences perception and behaviour.
What does DEI stand for, and why is it important?
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion → ensures fairness, respect, and belonging for all employees, improving satisfaction and performance.
What are examples of DEI initiatives in organizations?
- Recruiting diverse candidates.
- Employee resource groups.
- Mentoring programs.
- Awareness and bias training.
- Flexible work benefits.
What is organizational climate in the context of DEI?
Employees’ shared perceptions of fairness, trust, and support in the workplace.
