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Brief History:
Organizational Behavior Management
Behavior analysis and behavior modification, precursors of organizational behavior management, have grown rapidly since inception. In 1925, John B. Watson, an early visionary in the field of psychology, published Behaviorism while at John Hopkins University, a very radical and innovative work in its time. Although Dr. Watson championed the early development of behaviorism, B. F. Skinner is acknowledged as the father of modern behavior analysis. In 1938, Dr. Skinner published Behavior of Organisms, a landmark work formulating principles of operant behavior and investigative methodology. Since then, he has published numerous books and articles on behavior analysis that have revolutionized psychology and empirical human research.
During the 1950s, behavior analysis gained many prolific and skillful practitioners (i.e. Ferster, Baer, Wolf, Sherman, Azrin, Ayllon, Sidman, Lovass, Kazdin, etc.). Early research was generally restricted to laboratory animals. After successfully replicating the principles of reinforcement with animals, research was initiated with humans, typically those with severe mental, behavioral and learning disabilities. Following a plethora of successful human laboratory studies in the early ‘60s, behavior analysis was applied in natural settings to solve important social and learning problems.
As the field advanced in the ‘70s, many specialty areas formed and established roots in the fields of pre-school education, public education, penology, and organizational management. Behavior analysis became known as applied behavior analysis or behavior modification. The discipline, applied behavior analysis, finally earned its place as Division 25 in the American Psychological Association. The Association of Applied Behavior Analysis was also formed as an international professional organization.
In the ‘70s, behavior analysis applied to work behaviors in corporate, business and institutional settings became labeled organizational behavioral management. Behavioral applications initially solved fundamental work problems such as absenteeism, theft and safety violations. To share new research and findings, the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management was founded.
As the field advanced in the ‘80s, more complex work behaviors, such as goal setting, training, team productivity, sales, customer service, and managerial behaviors, became subjects of change using reinforcement and learning principles. The successful use of behavior management strategies at all corporate levels spawned many scholarly books applying behavioral theory to the macro level of organizational strategy and change. Because of its demonstrable effectiveness, organizational behavior management became rapidly and solidly rooted in corporate America. Many Fortune 1000 companies now employ organizational behavior managers in-house or as consultants.