IntroductionAs an amateur linguist, I am fascinated by words. Their origins and meanings help me better relate to my surroundings and specific concepts. Many would say that you can't begin to understand a word or concept until you agree on its meaning. John Locke wrote in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1977) that words mean ideas and further that if a person cannot identify the idea behind the word, then the words lack meaning (Kemerling, 2001). This terminological agreement regarding key concepts is the culmination of my research into the origins of words and as defined by Schermerhorn, Hunt, and Osborn in Organizational Behavior (2005). Once a concept has been defined I can learn from its application in specific situations or experiences therefore; giving the word meaning. Organizational Behavior Organizational behavior is the study of human and group behavior in organizations using methods such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, and political science (Schermerhorn, Hunt & Osborn, 2005). This study includes understanding key concepts to help us understand, predict and possibly influence human behavior in order to achieve higher levels of performance. Constant change in an organization's mission and structure greatly influences the nature of its organizational behavior. It is crucial to highlight how, as managers, we are responsible for being current in our decisions regarding the culture of the organization, the way we communicate, the way we manage diversity and other fundamental concepts of organizational behavior. These decisions greatly influence our effectiveness and efficiency, so we must learn as much as we can from our education and experience, to be the best managers we can be. Organizational Cultures As I stated, managers have the challenging task of encompassing many different concepts into their decision making. Understanding behavior is one thing, but understanding how an organization's culture influences an organization's behavior is another. Organizational culture is a collective belief system of ethics, norms and values ​​that influence the actions of its members (Schermerhorn et al, 2005). Organizational culture is the set of rules that hold a company together by establishing written or implicit standards of behavior and derive from experiences that allow us to decide what we consider important. The word culture comes from the Latin root colere, which means to inhabit, cultivate or honor (Wikipedia, 2005). Each of these meanings can be applied to the organizational sense of culture, why we exist, grow and respect as members of a group.