0. Personality and Values5
Personality and Values
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1. What is Personality?
The dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his unique adjustments to his environment. - Gordon Allport
The sum total of ways in which an individual reacts and interacts with others, the measurable traits a person exhibits
Measuring Personality
Helpful in hiring decisions
Most common method: self-reporting surveys
Observer-ratings surveys provide an independent assessment of personality – often better predictors
Personality is often defined by characteristics such as outgoing or charming. However, psychologists define personality as the growth and development of a person’s whole psychological system.
We study personality in Organizational Behavior because it impacts a number of important work outcomes. We can attempt to measure personality through a variety of methods. Often these methods are utilized in the hiring process to assist in hiring the right person for the job and the organization. The most common method is self-reporting surveys where individuals answer questions that determine what type of personality they have. Another, more accurate, method is when others observe the individual and provide an independent assessment of their personality.
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(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

2. Personality Determinants
Heredity
Factors determined at conception: physical stature, facial attractiveness, gender, temperament, muscle composition and reflexes, energy level, and bio-rhythms
This “Heredity Approach” argues that genes are the source of personality
Twin studies: raised apart but very similar personalities
There is some personality change over long time periods
There has been a long-standing debate about whether genetics or environment are more important in determining personality. They both play an important role. The heredity approach refers to factors determined at conception such as physical stature and gender. This has been reaffirmed by studies that have looked at twins who were raised apart but still had similar personalities. Personalities can, however, change over time.
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3. Personality Traits
Enduring characteristics that describe an individual’s behavior
The more consistent the characteristic and the more frequently it occurs in diverse situations, the more important the trait.
Two dominant frameworks used to describe personality:
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®)
Big Five Model
Even though personalities do change overtime, there are enduring characteristics that describe an individual’s behavior. If we see a trait consistently surface in different situations, this trait is important in describing the individual.
Some methods used to describe personality are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the MBTI. The Big Five Model is another framework used to describe personality.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

4. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Most widely used instrument in the world.
Participants are classified on four axes to determine one of 16 possible personality types, such as ENTJ.
Extroverted (E)
Introverted (I)
Sensing (S)
Intuitive (N)
Thinking (T)
Feeling (F)
Judging (J)
Perceiving (P)
Sociable and Assertive
Quiet and Shy
Unconscious
Processes
Practical and
Orderly
The MBTI is the most widely used personality instrument worldwide. Participants are classified within four scales to determine 1 of 16 possible personality types. These types are broken down into four dichotomies. The first is extroverts who tend to be sociable and assertive verses introverts who tend to be quiet and shy. The second dichotomy is sensing and intuitive. Sensors are practical and orderly where intuits utilize unconscious processes. The third dichotomy is thinking and feeling. Thinking focuses on using reason and logic where feeling utilizes values and emotions. The final dichotomy is judging and perceiving. Judgers want order and structure whereas perceivers are more flexible and spontaneous.
Uses Values & Emotions
Use Reason
and Logic
Flexible and Spontaneous
Want Order
& Structure
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5. The Types and Their Uses
Each of the sixteen possible combinations has a name, for instance:
Visionaries (INTJ) – original, stubborn, and driven
Organizers (ESTJ) – realistic, logical, analytical, and businesslike
Conceptualizer (ENTP) – entrepreneurial, innovative, individualistic, and resourceful
Research results on validity mixed
MBTI® is a good tool for self-awareness and counseling.
Should not be used as a selection test for job candidates.
The tool categorizes the individual into one of the four dichotomies, such as INTJ. There are 16 possible combinations and each helps the individual to better understand themselves. The tool is helpful, but should not be used for selection as the results on validity are mixed.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

6. The Big Five Model of Personality Dimensions
Extroversion
Sociable, gregarious, and assertive
Agreeableness
Good-natured, cooperative, and trusting
Conscientiousness
Responsible, dependable, persistent, and organized
Emotional Stability
Calm, self-confident, secure under stress (positive), versus nervous, depressed, and insecure under stress (negative)
Openness to Experience
Curious, imaginative, artistic, and sensitive
The Big Five model of personality sets forth that there are five basic dimensions that underlie all others and encompass most of the significant variations in human personalities. The Big Five factors are: Extroversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability and Openness to Experience. There is a lot of research that supports the Big Five model and it has been shown to predict behavior at work.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

7. How Do the Big Five Traits Predict Behavior?
Research has shown this to be a better framework.
Certain traits have been shown to strongly relate to higher job performance:
Highly conscientious people develop more job knowledge, exert greater effort, and have better performance.
Other Big Five Traits also have implications for work.
Emotional stability is related to job satisfaction.
Extroverts tend to be happier in their jobs and have good social skills.
Open people are more creative and can be good leaders.
Agreeable people are good in social settings.
There are certain traits that have been shown by extensive research to be strongly related to higher job performance. Conscientiousness has been shown as an effective predictor of better performance based on more extensive job knowledge and the willingness to exert greater effort.
In addition, the other five traits have implications for work. Emotional stability is related to job satisfaction and agreeable people are better in social-related jobs such as sales and customer service.
See E X H I B I T 5–1
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

8. Other Personality Traits Relevant to OB
Core Self-Evaluation
The degree to which people like or dislike themselves
Positive self-evaluation leads to higher job performance
Machiavellianism
A pragmatic, emotionally distant power-player who believes that ends justify the means
High Machs are manipulative, win more often, and persuade more than they are persuaded. Flourish when:
Have direct interaction
Work with minimal rules and regulations
Emotions distract others
Narcissism
An arrogant, entitled, self-important person who needs excessive admiration
Less effective in their jobs
There are additional personality traits relevant to organizational behavior. Core self-evaluation is the degree to which people like/dislike themselves. Positive self-evaluation leads to higher job performance. Machiavellianism describes a person who tends to be emotionally distant and believes that the ends justify the means. They tend to have a competitive drive and a need to win. They can be very persuasive in situations where there is direct interaction with minimal rules and people are distracted by emotions. Narcissism is a trait that often hinders job effectiveness. It describes a person who requires excessive admiration and has a strong sense of entitlement.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

9. More Relevant Personality Traits
Self-Monitoring
The ability to adjust behavior to meet external, situational factors.
High monitors conform more and are more likely to become leaders.
Risk Taking
The willingness to take chances.
May be best to align propensities with job requirements.
Risk takers make faster decisions with less information.
Self-monitoring is another personality trait that is linked to job performance. It is the ability to adjust behavior to meet situational factors. High monitors are more likely to become leaders in the workplace. Risk taking assesses the willingness to take chances. This is important in certain job situations, but not in all.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

10. Even More Relevant Personality Traits
Type A Personality
Aggressively involved in a chronic, incessant struggle to achieve more in less time
Impatient: always moving, walking, and eating rapidly
Strive to think or do two or more things at once
Cannot cope with leisure time
Obsessed with achievement numbers
Prized in North America but quality of the work is low
Type B people are the complete opposite
Proactive Personality
Identifies opportunities, shows initiative, takes action, and perseveres to completion
Creates positive change in the environment
Type A personalities are defined as those who need to achieve more and more. They are always moving, striving to multitask and don’t do well with leisure time. This is something that has been valued in North America, but it is not always a positive as quality of work can be low. Type B personalities operate at a slower pace, find time for leisure and are the opposite of all type A characteristics.
Proactive personalities are those that identify opportunities, take initiative, and persevere to completion in all they do. This is a positive in work environments.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

11. Relationships Among Personality Types
The closer the occupational fields, the more compatible.
The further apart the fields, the more dissimilar.
When the personality is matched with the type of occupation, then there are stronger positive work outcomes.
Need to match personality type with occupation.
Source: Reprinted by special permission of the publisher, Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc., from Making Vocational Choices, copyright 1973, 1985, 1992 by Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. All rights reserved.
E X H I B I T 5-7
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

12. Still Linking Personality to the Workplace
In addition to matching the individual’s personality to the job, managers are also concerned with:
Person-Organization Fit:
The employee’s personality must fit with the organizational culture.
People are attracted to organizations that match their values.
Those who match are most likely to be selected.
Mismatches will result in turnover.
Can use the Big Five personality types to match to the organizational culture.
This idea can be further linked to the workplace by looking at person-organization fit. The employee’s personality needs to fit with the organizational culture. When employees find organizations that match their values, they are more likely to be selected and correspondingly be more satisfied with their work. The big five personality types are often helpful in matching the individuals with organizational culture.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.

13. Summary and Managerial Implications
Global Implications
Personality
Do frameworks like Big Five transfer across cultures?
Yes, but the frequency of type in the culture may vary.
Better in individualistic than collectivist cultures.
Screen for the Big Five trait of conscientiousness
Take into account the situational factors as well
MBTI® can help with training and development
Summary and Managerial Implications
There are global implications to personality and values in the workplace. Frameworks such as the big five and MBTI are transferable across cultures; in fact, the MBTI has been used worldwide. However, the applicability is higher in some cultures than others. Values, on the other hand, differ to a great degree across cultures.
Geert Hofstede developed a framework for assessing culture. He breaks up his framework of understanding into five value dimensions: power distance, individualism vs. collectivism, masculinity vs. femininity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term vs. short-term orientation.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Prentice Hall
(c) 2008 Prentice-Hall, All rights reserved.