Attribution theory Attribution theory is focussed on why people behave the way they do and what can be done to change their behaviour. People generally attribute someone's behaviour to internal and external causes. Whether attributions are internal or external is an important determinant of how people respond to the behaviour. Kelly proposed a model to describe how people explain the causes of a person's behaviour when they have the opportunity to observe numerous instances of that behaviour - for example, in a work situation. He suggests that people rely on the covariation principle when they make attributions.
Covariation is the extent to which two events happen together or occur at the same time.
Conclusion Clearly, as managers, we need to be aware of the impact of personality and perceptions on our behaviour and the behaviour of other organisational members. This is particularly important in the face of increasing diversity in the workplace.