Culture and Organizational Behaviour (Second Printing 2010)

TLDR: Sinha et al. as discussed by the authors discuss the influence of cultural values and norms on the larger milieu in which Indian organizations operate and provide a considerable knowledge about organizational behavior as it has developed in the West and situates them in the Indian cultural perspective.

Abstract: Culture and Organizational Behaviour (Second Printing 2010) By Jai B P Sinha Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd. New Delhi, Pages: 426, Price: $8.06 ISBN: 978-81-7829-896-2(PB)Organizational behavior in the contemporary world is exposed to wide array of factors and one such factor finding wide audience is culture. The influence of culture on OB is so much talked of that it has almost become a cliche. This is evident in the flora of books on management both in Western and non-Western context that delineate on topic highlighting the influence of culture on OB. However, books dealing with the applicability and validity organizational behavior theories and practices across national boundaries are scarce. The book under review is one of the best contributions in this regard, which provides a considerable knowledge about organizational behavior as it has developed in the West and situates them in the Indian cultural perspective.The book is logically stratified into four main parts: (I) The Backdrop; (II) Individuals; (III) Groups; and (IV) Organizations. Each of these parts is further fragmented into meaningfully classified chapters of study. Each chapter contains few box inserts that provide insights to help readers to get in-depth understanding of contents in a precise manner.The first part includes Chapters 1 to 3. The opening chapter in this section is devoted to the evolution and development of organizational behavior theories, models, contents and practices navigating from Western culture to Indian culture. It provides information on different approaches to managing organizations-the Howthorne study, the human relations and socio-technical approaches. The newer concept of global organizational behavior reflecting many cultural shades has also been discussed in his chapter. Chapter 2 highlights the Indian cultural perspective and mindset with regard to OB. The author draws the attention to the diversity in the Indian mindset due to the presence of amalgamation of different values, beliefs, norms and action orientations. Chapter 3 describes the Indian organizations in the larger milieu which has economical, political and social facets. This chapter provides an excellent explanation of the influence of cultural values and norms on the larger milieu in which Indian organizations operate.The part II of book includes Chapter 4 and 5. In Chapter 4, the author has clearly identified nearly all major concepts of self, personality and culture and provided on explanation of integration of these important topics. The author concerns the issue of overseeing the fact that personality of individuals working in an organization has positive and negative impacts on organizational behavior. Chapter 5 begins with conceptualization of well-being in three different perspectives and later describes wellbeing of individuals working in an organization through motivation and stressmanagement. It covers Indian conceptualization of well-being, theories of motivation and Indian approaches to motivation.The Part III of book includes Chapter 6 to 11. Chapter 6 explains why people form or join groups in an organization; types of groups found in an organization and elucidate the influence of culture on all aspects of group. …