ob learning

8/9/2019 OB Learning

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Organisational Behaviour

Learning

Sanjeev K. Singh

Faculty- OB


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Objective

To understand Learning.

To describe the theories of learning.

To Discuss how managers can shapebehavior

To distinguish b/w four schedules of

reinforcement.


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Individual Learning

Learning is any relatively permanent

change in behaviour that occurs as a result

of experience. (Robbins:1998).

1 . Learning involves change.2. Change must be relatively permanent.

3. Learning takes place when there is a

change in actions.

4. Some form of experience is necessary forlearning.


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Theories of Learning

Three Theories which have been

offered to explain the process of by

which we acquire patterns ofbehaviour with in the organization.

These are

Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Social Learning


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Theories- contd.

The classical conditioning of learning which is

a type of conditioning in which an individual

responds to some stimulus that would notordinarily produce such a response.(Robbins:1998)

Operant conditioning is a type of conditioning

in which desired voluntary behaviour leads to a

reward or prevents a punishment. (Robbins:1998).Social learning theory is describe that

people can learn through observation and

direct experience. (Robbins:1998).


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Classical conditioning grew out of

experiments to teach dogs to salivate

in response to the ringing of a bell.

These experiments were conducted

at the turn of the century by a Russian

physiologist called Ivan Pavlov.


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Ivan Pavlov

A simple surgical procedure allowed

Pavlov to measure accurately the

amount of saliva secreted by a dog.

When Pavlov presented the dog with a

piece of meat, the dog exhibited a

noticeable increase in salivation.

When Pavlov withheld the presentation

of meat and merely rang a bell the dog

did not salivate.


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Pavlov

Then Pavlov proceeded to link the

meat and the ringing of the bell.

After repeatedly hearing the bellbefore getting the food the dog began

to salivate as soon as the bell rang.

After some time the dog would begin

to salivate merely at the sound of the

bell even if their was no evidence of

food.


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Pavlov and Classical Conditioning

In this experiment:

The meat was the unconditionedunconditioned

stimulusstimulus (it invariably caused the dog to

react in a specific way).

The increase in salivation (the reaction

that took place to the unconditioned

stimulus) was the unconditionedunconditionedresponseresponse


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Pavlov and Classical Conditioning

The bell was an artificial stimulus i.e. the

conditionedconditioned stimulusstimulus. Although is was

originally neutral, after the bell was

paired with the meat (an unconditionedstimulus) it eventually produced a

response when produced alone.

The conditionedconditioned responseresponse describes

the behaviour of the dog - it salivated in

reaction to the bell alone.


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Using these concepts we can

summarise classical conditioning.

Learning a conditioned response

involves building up an association

between a conditioned stimulus and

an unconditioned stimulus.

When the stimuli, one compelling andthe other neutral, are paired, the

neutral one becomes a conditioned

stimulus and takes on the properties

on the unconditioned stimulus.


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Classical conditioning is passive.

Something happens and we react in a

specific way.It is elicited in response to a specific,

identifiable event.

As such it can explain simple reflexivebehaviours.


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Classical conditioning


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Most behaviour in the workplace is

emitted rather than elicited - i.e. it is

voluntary rather than reflexive.


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The learning of these voluntary

behaviours is best understood by

looking at operant conditioning.Operant conditioning argues that

behaviour is a function of its

consequences[it is] a type ofconditioning in which desired

voluntary behaviour leads to a

reward or prevents a punishment.

(Robbins:1998)


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What Pavlov did for classical

conditioning, the Harvard psychologist

B.F. Skinner did for operant

conditioning.

Building on earlier work in the field by

Thorndike (law of effect - behaviour

as a result of successful outcome),Skinners research extensively

expanded our knowledge of operant

conditioning.


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B.F. Skinner

Skinner argued that creating pleasing

consequences to follow specific forms

of behaviour would increase the

frequency of that behaviour.


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B.F. Skinner

Skinners experiments on animals

showed the effects of rewards and

punishment on animal learning.

He proved that a response would be

learned when the animal associated

the behavioural response to a reward,

or reinforcement as Skinner termed it.


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Skinner

Operant conditioning experiment:

A hungry animal is placed in a box which is

empty except for a lever and foodcontainer.

The stimulus is the lever in the box. The

response is through trial and error the

animal presses the lever which releases apellet of food.

The animal learns to respond to the lever

for the reward of food. Thus a

stimulus/response bond has been made.


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Behaviour modification is the term

given when behaviour is gradually

shaped and reinforced by rewards as

the person comes closer to the end

objectives.

Learning occurs incrementally with

the task divided into sub-goals eachwith their own reward.


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Rewards are only one part of the

learning process.

By themselves the behaviouraltheories are not able to account for

the complexity of differing situations

that individuals face nor for the variety

of individual responses given.


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Operant conditioning


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Social Learning

People can learn through observation

and direct experience.

For example much of what we havelearned comes from watching models-

parents, teachers, peers, motion

picture etc.


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Process of Social LearningA

ttentional processes people learn form amodel only when they recognize and pay attentionto its critical features.

Retention Process A models influence willdepend on how well the individual remembers themodels action after the model is no longer readily

available.Motor reproduction process After a person hasseen a new behavior by observing the model, thewatching must be converted to doing. Thisprocess then demonstrates that the individual can

perform the modeled activities.Reinforcement Processes individual will bemotivated to exhibit the modeled Behaviour ifpositive incentives or rewards provided. Behaviorsthat are positively reinforced will be given moreattention, learned better and performed more

often.


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Shaping A Managerial Tool

Systematically reinforcing each

successive step that moves an

individual closer to the desired

response.


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Methods of Shaping Behaviour

There are four ways to shape Behaviour:

1. Positive reinforcement- Following a responsewith something pleasant is called positivereinforcement

2. Negative reinforcement- Following a responseby termination or withdrawal of somethingunpleasant is called negative reinforcement.

3. Punishment- it is causing an unpleasantcondition in an attempt to eliminate anundesirable Behaviour.

4. Extinction Eliminating any reinforcement thatis maintaing a Behaviour is called extinction.


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Conclusion

Managers should expect that

employees will look to them as

models. Managers who are constantly

late to work, or take two hours for

lunch, or help themselves to company

office supplies for personal use

should expect employees to read themessage they are sending and

model their behaviour accordingly.

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