Introduction to OBM: principles and applications in team management
A first approach to organisational management based on behavioural science.
Why do people not always do what they know how to do? How does the work environment influence performance? And how can we use the principles of behaviour analysis to understand and improve the way teams work?
In this introductory course, participants will learn the foundations of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), explore examples of how it is applied and try out basic behavioural analysis tools in organisational settings.
Who this course is for.
- Psychologists and behaviour analysts interested in applying behaviour analysis to organisations
- Directors and coordinators of clinics and schools
- Supervisors and team leaders
- Human resources and organisational development professionals
No prior knowledge of OBM is required.
By the end, you will know.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to:
- Explain what OBM is and identify its main areas of application.
- Recognise the influence of antecedents and consequences on professional behaviour.
- Distinguish performance problems related to skills from those related to environmental variables.
- Identify behaviours that matter for the way a team works.
- Recognise basic applications of reinforcement, feedback and goal setting.
- Understand the importance of measurement in evaluating organisational interventions.
4 modules, 8 hours.
01What is OBM? (2h)
- Origins and development of Organizational Behavior Management.
- The relationship between behaviour analysis and organisational management.
- Main areas of application of OBM.
- Examples of interventions in different professional settings.
02Understanding behaviour at work (2h)
- The ABC model: antecedents, behaviour and consequences.
- Reinforcement and punishment in organisational settings.
- The difference between skill deficits and performance problems.
- Introduction to the functional analysis of professional behaviour.
Exercise: identifying antecedents and consequences in a work scenario.
03Behavioural strategies in team management (2h)
- Defining target behaviours and goals.
- Behavioural feedback.
- Positive reinforcement and recognition.
- Introduction to evidence-based performance management.
Exercise: analysing a management situation and selecting possible behavioural strategies.
04From observation to intervention: a practical OBM example (2h)
- Identifying an organisational problem.
- Selecting relevant behaviours.
- Introduction to data collection and setting indicators.
- Basic structure of an OBM intervention.
- How to evaluate whether change has occurred.
Final exercise: guided analysis of an organisational case, from identifying the problem to an initial intervention proposal.
An initial understanding of the principles and applications of OBM, with examples and introductory tools for observing and analysing behaviour in a professional setting.
The aim is not to train OBM specialists in a single day, but to provide a conceptual and practical foundation for understanding how behavioural science can contribute to managing people and organisations.
Psychologist and behaviour analyst, clinical co-director. More than 20 years of practice, research and supervision, ten of them in Canada.
CLINIC
2026
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