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Office Space & Organizational Behaviour. Connecting cult-classic comedy with workplace theory.
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Why “Office Space”?. - Cult‐classic workplace satire (1999) - Universal themes: boredom, bureaucracy, burnout - Perfect “case study” for OB concepts.
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Organizational Behaviour 101. - Definition: Study of how people think, feel, and act in organizations - Core Levels: 1. Individual (attitudes, motivation) 2. Group (teams, communication) 3. Organization (culture, structure).
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Individual Behaviour – Motivation. - Peter’s Apathy: After therapy glitch, he stops caring about “TPS reports” - Theory in Action: - Herzberg’s Hygiene Factors: Boring work → dissatisfaction - Job Enrichment: Peter finds meaning in rebellion.
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Leadership & Management Styles. - Bill Lumbergh: Micromanaging, transactional - Impact: - Low trust, low morale - Contrast with laissez-faire leadership.
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Communication Breakdowns. - Endless Meetings: “This is not a memo, this is a meeting.” - Noise & Distortion: Bureaucracy dilutes messages - OB Insight: Effective feedback loops are essential.
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Group Dynamics & Resistance to Change. - Initech’s Culture: Static, risk-averse - Peter, Michael & Samir: Informal “coalition” to rebel - OB Lens: - Group Cohesion, Shared Cynicism - Lewin’s Change Model: Unfreeze → Change → Refreeze.
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Organizational Culture & Climate. - Artifacts: Gray cubicles, malfunctioning printer, stapler - Espoused vs. Enacted Values: - Says “teamwork,” enacts “compliance” - Takeaway: Culture shapes behaviour.
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Job Satisfaction & Well-Being. - Milton’s Marginalization: Broom closet, ignored - Psychological Contract Breach: - Broken promises → disengagement, revenge.
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Lessons & Takeaways. 1. Motivate by enriching work 2. Lead with trust & autonomy 3. Communicate clearly 4. Cultivate a healthy culture 5. Respect the psychological contract.
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Discussion Questions. 1. Which character reflects your own workplace experiences? 2. How could Initech redesign jobs? 3. What small “culture shifts” would improve your office?.