To discuss what organizational behavior is we should start by defining what is an organization. An organization can be defined as group of people that has a common goal. The goal of the organization could have a wide range; it could be making money, saving animals in danger of extinction, spread religious beliefs, developing standards, etc. The complexity of the organizations structure has a wide range, and it doesn't depend on the fact that the organization end is to make money or not. The wider the range of operation the more complex it becomes.
Organizational behavior is the science that studies the impact that individuals, groups and structure have on the behavior of the organization members. The end of organizational behavior is the improving of the organizations by making it more effective. Stephen Robbins defines it as" a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization's effectiveness." (9). .
There is a general agreement as to which are the core elements in the study of organizational behavior; motivation, leader behavior and power, interpersonal communication, group structure and processes, learning, attitude development and perception, change processes, conflict, work design, and work stress. Obviously no one discipline can cover all these elements, some are based on individual behavior, and others are concerned with the group interaction. To cover these elements, the study of organizational behavior relays on the cumulative knowledge of psychology, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, and political science to create its body of knowledge. .
There are several factors that make organizational behavior a complex discipline. I believe it's an ever-changing field of study because people and organizations are constantly changing.