Running Header: PRODUCTIVE AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

Productive and Counterproductive Behavior
University of Phoenix
Julie McLeod Jenkins
July 26, 2010
Dr. Marie Tiemann

What is Productive and Counterproductive Behavior Productive behavior can be defined as when a person/employee acts in a specific way that produces an effectual behavior that in turn has a positive outcome. Counterproductive behavior is when a person/employee acts in a way that goes against the ideas and goals of a group or organization. Both types of behavior can have an enormous impact on any organization, both negative and positive. Whether the effect is positive or negative depends completely upon the person or persons and the specific organization. The outcomes of both productive and counterproductive behavior can, however, are manipulated into all around positive effects with certain strategies. Productive and Counterproductive Behaviors In an organization or group there will always be people who will have either one of two behaviors. They can either be a productive or a counterproductive behavior type. Those who obtain a productive behavior are likely to have a positive effect on an organization. For example, there are two employees in a clothing store with similarities in their sale figures and they sell the same amount of a certain piece of clothing each month. The only difference in these two employees is that employee A works ten hours each day and employee B works six hours every day. Employee B is the more productive employee because employee B accomplishes the same goal as employee A but in a fewer amount of hours. There is a lower cost associated with employee B, therefore making him the more productive of the two employees. Efficient employees are productive because they complete large amounts of work in a short period of time. Most employers want employees with productive behaviors because they tend to bring revenue for the organization. However, employees sometimes arrive at the actual act of being productive confused with simply doing “something”. This is not necessarily true, though. A productive behavior, by definition, is behavior that contributes in a positive way to any goals and ideas set up by an organization. Therefore, simply by occupying one’s time by doing something is not considered productive. However, the productivity of an employee can be measured by any cost that can be associated with the employee’s personal performance and how effective that employee is in the work environment. This type of behavior can be encouraged by incentives and rewards for completing specific tasks and job related things efficiently and beneficially to the organization. By offering such “treats”, employees will be more apt to complete tasks in an overall productive and effective manner. Strategies That May Increase Productive and Counterproductive Behaviors The primary cause of a counterproductive behavior can be associated with an employee’s lack of training in a certain area, employee turnovers, or simply an employee’s attendance issues. The lack of happiness in the workplace could create a counterproductive behavior as well. To determine what specific causes might be attributed to an employee’s counterproductive behavior is up to the organization. The organization must then come up with a solution to end this negative behavior. However, sometimes a solution cannot be obtained because the employee is acting in rebellion. When this occurs, sometimes the best solution is just to terminate the employee so the rebellious behavior does not become contagious. An efficient way to minimize the occurrence of counterproductive behavior is to make sure that employees understand that there are consequences for nonproductive behavior in an organization. By allowing employees to comprehend the negative effects of counterproductive behavior, an organization is making the fact that a counterproductive behavior is unacceptable aware to the entire employee staff. This should make employees who normally exemplify counterproductive behavior more aware of the negative effect they are having on the organization and that there are consequences for their negativity. Productive and counterproductive behaviors will always be visible in any organization. Productive behavior is basically when an employee has a positive behavior and causes the organization to benefit from their activities within the organization. Counterproductive behavior is when an employee’s part within an organization either does nothing or has a negative effect for the organization. A productive behavior can be encouraged by placing rewards for those who exemplify this particular behavior. A counterproductive behavior can be discouraged simply by making sure employees understand that there are consequences for their negative actions. Overall, productive and counterproductive behaviors can effect any organizations in both negative and positive ways. It is up to the organization as to which holds the greatest amount of weight through their employees, though.

Reference
Jex, S. M., & Britt, T. W. (2008). Organizational Psychology. A Scientist-Practitioner Approach (2nd ed.). : John Wiley & Sons.

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