The Need for and Meaning of Positive Organizational Behavior Based on "The Need for and Meaning of Positive Organizational Behavior" by Fred Luthans, PhD, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2002, and additional research through 2010. Not-too-distant-past business bestsellers (One Minute Manager, Who Moved My Cheese, Seven Habits) may be onto something, but they have not been based on research. Now there is research to show which psychological states contribute to an organization's success. We've all heard of human capital and how it affects the bottom line; this is a person's psychological capital. Luthans feels that we need a positive search for and understanding of the good in people at work and in life. To this end, he has studied and developed theory on the importance of developing states of hope, optimism, well-being (happiness), resilience and emotional intelligence to enhanced leadership, employee development and performance. His work provides conclusive research, showing that encouraging peoples' strengths is not the newest management buzz; there is a science to it.