HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL-BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT TO SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES

This article traces the development of the field of organizational beh avior management (OBM) from its origins in early behavior modification studies, the development of a technology for modifying staff behavior , to recent developments in the evolution of cultures. An ecological m odel of staff behavior is outlined using Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecolo gical model of human development. The technology used to modify staff behavior is briefly reviewed. In the final section recommendations for managers and researchers are made. Managers should be aware that ther e is an effective technology for modifying a wide range of staff behav iors that can be implemented both in response to crises and during rou tine management. Future research on OEM should address three major con cerns. First, OEM should broaden the scope of its enquiry beyond the i mmediate staff and consumer dyad to include analysis of and interventi on upon the entire ecosystem within which the consumer's behavior occu rs. Second, the issue of integrating theory with practice should be pu rsued more vigorously through fundamental research on supervisor behav ior and through basing interventions on an analysis of the variables m aintaining current supervisory behavior. Third, greater attention shou ld be paid to developing training for middle managers as generalist us ers of the principles of OBM.