Activity #11 -Research Paper - Individual Submission
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Management
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Nov 24, 2024
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Uploaded by MasterScience9621
Assignment: Activity #11 - Research Paper - Individual Submission
Submitted by: Dipesh Acharya
Course Name: Organizational Behavior (BADM-532-M51) - Full Term
Student Id: 005014149
Submission Date: 11
th
November 2023
Attribution Theory
Overview
Attribution theory is an important concept in business and professional practice. It examines the process of attributing causality to events or behaviors, and helps to explain how individuals come to understand external events. Attribution theory is mainly concerned with how
people make inferences about their environment, specifically, how individual attributes the cause
of events to internal and external sources. Understanding this process can help individuals understand how they can shape the behavior of their peers, colleagues, and customers. From a business perspective, this theory can be used to design and implement better strategies for customer relationship management, promotional activities, or employee training and development. It can help to identify the beliefs, assumptions, and motivations that influence the decisions of customers, coworkers, and colleagues. This theory can be used to develop better communication strategies and build more effective relationships in the workplace.
In professional practice, the knowledge gained from attribution theory can be useful in identifying and addressing underlying issues that can lead to conflict (Su et al., 2020). For example, research using this theory has been used to explain the differences between how Western and non-Western cultures attribute meaning to events and behaviors. Thus, understanding this concept can help professionals work better in a diverse teams, as well as create strategies for dealing proactively with conflict.
Attribution theory is an important concept to consider in both business and professional practice. It allows individuals to better understand the motivations and beliefs of others, and can help to identify and address underlying issues before they become major problems.
Understanding this concept can help employers and professionals create better strategies for promoting collaboration, reducing conflict, and managing customer relationships.
Purpose of Research
The purpose of this research is to explore the Attribution Theory, its principles, and its applications to current business and professional practices. Attribution theory is based on the idea
that in order to better understand motivation and behavior, it is necessary to understand the explanations we use to attribute causes to behavior. By understanding the reasons why people do the things they do, it is possible to more effectively develop strategies to achieve goals. Attribution Theory has the potential to be applied to current business and professional practices in order to better motivate employees and improve outcomes. It could be used to create more effective incentives, identify team strengths, foster collaboration, and improve communication. Attributing causes to behavior can also be used to provide feedback that results in improved performance and better results. This research will also contribute to the larger body of literature on Attribution Theory by elucidating on its principles and applications in current business and professional settings.
Review of the Literature
Attribution Theory is a psychological concept which looks at how people make sense of their environments by assigning or attributing causes to behavior and events. Person's attributions are based on their internal and external attributions, whether they give an event an external or internal reason. Attributing an event to an external or internal cause can be impacted by the observer and their perspective. The literature on Attribution Theory has grown
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considerably over the years and a number of studies have provided insight and deepening of our understanding of this concept.
One of the earliest studies of Attribution Theory was conducted by Jones and Davis 1965.
This study looked into how individuals construct causal explanations for their behavior. They found that people tend to attribute their successes to internal factors such as their ability while attributing their failures to external factors such as luck or other situational elements. Other subsequent studies have looked at how social factors, such as relationships and culture, influence
the way people attribute their experiences. For example, Van Oldenborgh et al., (2021) found that
people are more likely to assign internal attributions to those they like and external attributions to
those they do not. Oldenborgh et al., (2021) believed that our natural tendency is to explain events in terms of personal causes. Davidai (2022) showed how personal and situational factors combine to produce certain types of attributions. He found that people are more likely to make an internal attribution when a task is difficult, and an external attribution when it is easy. This highlights the importance of making appropriate attributions in order to produce successful outcomes. Schunk (2023) suggested that success and failure can both involve internal attributions, depending on the situation. For example, if an individual succeeds despite difficult conditions, they may attribute the success to their skill or determination.
A substantial amount of research has been conducted into Attribution Theory and the way
people make attributions. Attributional style has been shown to affect performance, with individuals who attribute successes to internal skills faring better than those who make external attributions. The literature review has suggested that personal as well as social factors influence
how people make attributions. More studies are needed to further explore the impact of attributions on our daily lives.
Practical Application
Attribution Theory suggests that we create meaning by assigning a cause to our behaviors
or to those of others. This theory has several practical applications that may be used in business environment. For example, Attribution Theory suggests that we determine negative workplace behavior by one of three attributions: task difficulty, characteristics of the individual, or external influences. This allows managers to better identify and address sources of conflict and hinderances to employee success.
Manager can also use Attribution Theory to foster an environment of open communication. By examining the attributions for negative behaviors, managers can often identify possible solutions without resorting to heavy-handed discipline. Additionally, managers can use the theory to encourage greater job satisfaction in the workplace by helping employees understand they have control over their behavior. This can help build trust between employees and their managers, which can be beneficial to a group and business as a whole.
By applying Attribution Theory in the workplace, organizations are better able to understand the motivations behind employees actions (Palm et al., 2020). This can help managers better address a wide range of problems and issues that may arise within the work environment, from low productivity to interpersonal conflicts. Additionally, it can be used to create an environment where employees feel supported and valued, allowing organizations to foster increased loyalty and job satisfaction.
Conclusion
Attribution theory gives us a better understanding of how people perceive events and situations in their lives, as well as how these attributions affect their behavior. It has been studied
in a variety of different situations, such as sports, advertising, healthcare, and interpersonal relationships. Despite the variety of contexts in which it has been studied, the core concepts of attribution theory remain the same. In particular, the theory focuses on the mental processes which help individuals to make sense of their social environment.
Attribution theory provides insights into how we think and understand our life experiences, interactions with others, and ourselves. It can help us to better understand why we do and think the things we do. Attribution theory can also help us better understand the motivations and intentions of those around us. Although it is an ever-evolving field, the basic premises of attribution theory remain the same, providing a valuable tool for anyone who wishes to gain a better understanding of the way they interact with their social environment.
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References
Davidai, S. (2022). How do people make sense of wealth and poverty?.
Current Opinion in Psychology
,
43
, 42-47.
Palm, E., Seubert, C., & Glaser, J. (2020). Understanding employee motivation for work-to-
nonwork integration behavior: A reasoned action approach.
Journal of Business and Psychology
,
35
, 683-696.
Schunk, D. H. (2023). Self-regulation of self-efficacy and attributions in academic settings. In
Self-regulation of learning and performance
(pp. 75-99). Routledge.
Su, L., Gong, Q., & Huang, Y. (2020). How do destination social responsibility strategies affect tourists’ intention to visit? An attribution theory perspective.
Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services
,
54
, 102023.
Van Oldenborgh, G. J., Krikken, F., Lewis, S., Leach, N. J., Lehner, F., Saunders, K. R., ... & Otto, F. E. (2021). Attribution of the Australian bushfire risk to anthropogenic climate change.
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
,
21
(3), 941-960.
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