conditioning

(noun)

A technique of behavior modification, developed by B.F. Skinner, that utilizes positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishment to alter behavior.

Related Terms

Examples of conditioning in the following topics:

  • Operant Conditioning

    • Operant conditioning is a form of learning in which a person changes his behavior because of the results of his behavior.
    • Operant conditioning is a form of learning.
    • Within operant conditioning, the terms "positive" and "negative" are not used in their common or popular sense; positive means that something is added, and negative means something is taken away.
    • Define the methodology behind operant conditioning as a reinforcement agent in organizational behavior

  • Collective Bargaining

    • Collective bargaining is negotiation between unions and employers to come to an agreement on the conditions of employment.
    • In collective bargaining, the process of negotiation between employees and employers, employees attempt to achieve employment conditions that serve their shared interests.
    • Collective bargaining consists of the process of negotiation between representatives of a union and employers (generally represented by management) in respect to the terms and conditions of employment, such as wages, hours of work, working conditions, grievance procedures, and the rights and responsibilities of trade unions.
    • It is also illegal to require any employee to join a union as a condition of employment.
    • Outline the conditions and negotiation process between groups of employees (unions) and employers in the human resource frame

  • Elements of Managing Control

    • These include the characteristic or condition being controlled, the sensor, the comparator, and the activator.
    • Condition or Characteristic - Because organizational systems are large and complex, it is virtually impossible to control every aspect of their operations with rigid control mechanisms.
    • Controllers can, however, determine the key conditions or characteristics of output and monitor them.
    • Sensor - After determining a condition(s), managers must integrate the various communications and data collecting sensors that procure and pass information from the system to management.

  • Defining Stress

    • While it is generally agreed that stress occurs at work, views differ on the importance of worker characteristics versus working conditions as its primary cause.
    • Different individual characteristics, like personality and coping skills, can be very important predictors of whether certain job conditions will result in stress.
    • Stress-related disorders encompass a broad array of conditions, including psychological disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder) and other types of emotional strain (e.g., dissatisfaction, fatigue, tension), maladaptive behaviors (e.g., aggression, substance abuse), and cognitive impairment (e.g., concentration and memory problems).
    • Physical Demands - Many types of work are physically demanding, including strenuous activity, extreme working conditions, travel, exposure to hazardous materials, and working in a tight, loud office.

  • The Impact of External and Internal Factors on Strategy

    • Analysis of both internal factors and external conditions is central to creating effective strategy.
    • The internal conditions are many and varied depending on the organization (just as the external factors in any given industry will be).
    • However, management has some strategic control over how these various internal conditions interact.
    • While different businesses have different internal conditions, it is easiest to view these potential attributes as generalized categories.

  • Causes of Workplace Stress

    • Although the importance of individual differences cannot be ignored, scientific evidence suggests that certain working conditions are stressful to most people.
    • Such evidence argues that working conditions are a key source of job stress and job redesign should be used as a primary prevention strategy.
    • Large-scale surveys of working conditions—including conditions recognized as risk factors for job stress—were conducted in member states of the European Union in 1990, 1995, and 2000.
    • Evaluate the role of work conditions, economic factors, and organizational social dynamics in the experience of stress in the workplace

  • Making Decisions Under Conditions of Risk and Uncertainty

    • Conditions of risk and uncertainty frame most decisions rendered by management.
    • Uncertainty is a state of having limited knowledge of current conditions or future outcomes.

  • Shared Leadership

    • Research reveals that for shared leadership to merge and succeed, two conditions must be met:

  • Social Responsibility Audits

    • Social aspects considered might include worker conditions or community investment.
    • One metric that might be tested in a social responsibility audit is worker conditions in the company's plants.

  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Group Decision Making

    • Group decision making can lead to improved outcomes, but only if a variety of conditions pertaining to group chemistry are satisfied.