OBM work and skills
What is organizational behavior management?
Organizational behavior management (OBM) applies behavior analysis to how people work. It examines the conditions that support employee performance, including training, tools, feedback and the way work is organized.
Through BASN’s unrestricted OBM fieldwork with BCBA supervision, you work on organizational problems with clients we provide and a BCBA supervisor to guide you. You can start fieldwork with us or add OBM alongside another placement.
Performance assessment
Start by defining the work in terms someone can observe. For example, “communicate better” gives a team little to measure. “Send a complete session summary within 24 hours” gives them an expectation and a timeframe they can review.
Then examine the conditions around the task: clear expectations, existing skills, available tools and time, and what happens after the work. A missing skill may call for a different response than confusing instructions or a missing tool. A problem may also sit in a handoff between teams, even when each person knows their own task.
BASN projects may involve approved observations, manager interviews and review of existing work processes. The purpose is to understand the problem before choosing a response.
Staff training and onboarding
When employees need to learn a skill, written instructions may be only one part of the training. Behavioral skills training combines instructions, demonstration, practice and feedback. The aim is to see the person perform the skill, then check how it carries over to everyday work.
In a BASN project, you may turn a task into observable steps, develop a checklist or practice activity, and review the materials with your supervisor. Build the training around the client’s workflow and the resources employees can use.
Manager feedback and quality assurance
Useful feedback describes specific work and connects it to a clear expectation. A manager and employee can review which steps were completed accurately, which records arrived on time, or where more support is needed. Evaluate the feedback process to see whether it helps in that setting.
Decide what to measure before drawing conclusions. Employee follow-through, customer satisfaction and student learning are different outcomes. Keep reported results tied to what the project actually measured.
Your project may include a measurement procedure, a manager-feedback process or a review of performance data with your BCBA supervisor.
Professional judgment
Choosing an intervention also means considering the people who will use it. Listen to employee and manager concerns, protect confidential information, and look for changes that are feasible within the organization. A useful improvement needs to work beyond a single observation.
Review baseline and follow-up data, check whether agreed procedures were used, and document other changes that could affect results. Practice explaining what you found, what remains uncertain and what you would try next.
These are skills you can develop through supervised OBM project work. The client’s needs and your assigned responsibilities shape the activities you work on.
Further reading: The BACB’s introduction to OBM and research on behavioral skills training.