Testing Argyris' theory of organizational behavior

Abstract

An empirical test of the major sections of Argyris' “Theory of Organizational Behavior” is discussed. Eight hundred subjects, from nineteen different health care organizations of differential types and differential sizes participated in this study. As Argyris predicted, significant discrepancies were found between the employer's descriptions of organizational qualities required for organizational effectiveness and economics and the employee's perceptions of the working environment that is necessary to fulfill their needs and expectations on the job. In contrast, only mild support was found for the prediction that the employer-employee discrepancies were to increase with an increasing degree of the employee's social maturity. The “reaction variables” as hypothesized in Argyris' model were also confirmed. Furthermore, results of this empirical test indicate a strong impact which organizational variables have on the perception of discrepancies among employees which are not part of Argyris' model.