Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources (OBHR)

The Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources area specializes in how people operate within organizations. The OBHR area offers a range of courses, which allow students to learn specific technical skills to manage the employment relationship and analyze individual, group, and organizational processes.

Effective management of employment relationships requires responding to the needs of a diverse work force, developing flexible organizational structures, improving work performance, facilitating improved relationships with unions, and reducing conflict within the workplace. A variety of skills including interpersonal communications, motivation, negotiation, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, and leadership are essential to working effectively with others. Human Resource professionals also participate in organizational development initiatives such as stress reduction, wellness initiatives, spirituality, career development, and training. These are approaches used to retain employees – a core component of Human Resources.

Students with a particular talent in the people aspects of organizations often choose to concentrate their studies in the OBHR area. Students developing a generalist background in OBHR will have the basic skills for effective management.
Students may specialize as human resource professionals, organizational analysts, and/or labour relations officers.

OBHR courses are taught by senior researchers whose research projects collectively lead to a better understanding of how to improve employment relationships and organizational effectiveness.

Students declaring a Concentration must take a required six courses. Please refer to the University of Calgary Calendar for a description of these courses and their prerequisites.