Organizational Behavior

Nineteenth Edition, Global Edition

Chapter 5
Personality and Individual
Differences

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Learning Objectives (1 of 2)
5.1 Describe the differences between person–job fit and
person–organization fit.
5.2 Describe personality, the way it is measured, and the
factors that shape it.
5.3 Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the Myers-
Briggs Type Indicator (M BT I) personality framework, the
Big Five model, and the Dark Triad.
5.4 Discuss how the concepts of core self-evaluation (CS
E), self-monitoring, and proactive personality contribute
to the understanding of personality.

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Learning Objectives (2 of 2)
5.5 Describe how the situation affects whether personality
predicts behavior.
5.6 Demonstrate the relevance of intellectual and physical
abilities to O B.
5.7 Contrast terminal and instrumental values.

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Describe the Differences Between Person–
Job Fit and Person–Organization Fit (1 of 4)
• Personality–job fit theory identifies six personality types
and proposes that the fit between personality type and
occupational environment determines satisfaction and
turnover.

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Describe the Differences Between Person–
Job Fit and Person–Organization Fit (2 of 4)
Exhibit 5.1 Holland’s Typology of Personality and Congruent Occupations

Type Personality Characteristics Congruent Occupations

Realistic: Prefers physical activities that Shy, genuine, persistent, stable, Mechanic, drill press operator,
require skill, strength, and coordination conforming, practical assembly-line worker, farmer

Investigative: Prefers activities that Analytical, original, curious, Biologist, economist,

involve thinking, organizing, and independent mathematician, news reporter
understanding
Artistic: Prefers ambiguous and Imaginative, disorderly, idealistic, Painter, musician, writer, interior
unsystematic activities that allow emotional, impractical decorator
creative expression
Social: Prefers activities that involve Sociable, friendly, cooperative, Social worker, teacher, counselor,
helping and developing others understanding clinical psychologist

Enterprising: Prefers verbal activities in Self-confident, ambitious, Lawyer, real estate agent, public
which there are opportunities to energetic domineering relations specialist, small business
influence others and attain power manager

Conventional: Prefers rule-regulated, Conforming, efficient, practical, Accountant, corporate manager,

orderly, and unambiguous activities unimaginative, inflexible bank teller, file clerk

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Describe the Differences Between Person–
Job Fit and Person–Organization Fit (3 of 4)
• Personality–organization fit theory suggests that people
are attracted to and selected by organizations that match
their values and leave when there is no compatibility.

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Describe the Differences Between Person–
Job Fit and Person–Organization Fit (4 of 4)
• Other dimensions of fit
– Person–group fit
– Person–supervisor fit

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Describe Personality, the Way It Is Measured,
and the Factors That Shape It (1 of 3)

• Defining Personality
– Personality is the sum of ways in which an individual
reacts to and interacts with the world around them.
 Personality traits – enduring characteristics that
describe an individual’s behavior.

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Describe Personality, the Way It Is Measured,
and the Factors That Shape It (2 of 3)

• Measuring Personality
– Managers need to know how to measure personality.
 Personality tests are useful in hiring decisions and
help managers forecast who is best for a job.
– The most common means of measuring personality is
through self-report surveys.

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Describe Personality, the Way It Is Measured,
and the Factors That Shape It (3 of 3)
OB POLL Are Personality Assessments Only Used for High-Level Positions?

Source: Based on K. Rockwood, “How Accurate Are Personality Assessments,” Society for Human
Resource Management, November 21, 2019,
https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/winter2019/pages/how-accurate-are-personality-as
sessments.aspx

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Strengths and Weakness of the MBT
I, Big Five Model, and Dark Triad (1 of
6)
• The most widely used personality framework is the Myers-
Briggs Type Indicator (M BT I).
• Individuals are classified as:
– Extroverted or Introverted (E or I)
– Sensing or Intuitive (S or N)
– Thinking or Feeling (T or F)
– Perceiving or Judging (P or J)
 I NT Js are visionaries.
 EST Js are organizers.
 ENT Ps are conceptualizers.

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Strengths and Weakness of the MBT
I, Big Five Model, and Dark Triad (2 of
6)
• The Big Five Model
– Conscientiousness
– Emotional stability
– Extroversion
– Openness to experience
– Agreeableness

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Strengths and Weakness of the MBT
I, Big Five Model, and Dark Triad (3 of
6)
Exhibit 5.2 Traits That Matter Most to Business Success at
Buyout Companies
Most Important Less Important
Persistence Strong oral communication

Attention to detail Teamwork

Efficiency Flexibility/adaptability
Analytical skills Enthusiasm
Setting high standards Listening skills

Source: Based on S. N. Kaplan, M. M. Klebanov, and M. Sorensen, “Which CE O

Characteristics and Abilities Matter?” The Journal of Finance 67, no. 3 (2012): 973–1007.

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Strengths and Weakness of the MBT
I, Big Five Model, and Dark Triad (4 of
6)
Exhibit 5.3 Model of How Big Five Traits Influence OB
Criteria

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Strengths and Weakness of the MBT
I, Big Five Model, and Dark Triad (5 of
6)
• The Dark Triad
– Machiavellianism: the degree to which an individual
is pragmatic, maintains emotional distance, and
believes that ends can justify means.
– Narcissism: the tendency to be arrogant, have a
grandiose sense of self-importance, require excessive
admiration, and have a sense of entitlement.
– Psychopathy: the tendency for a lack of concern for
others and a lack of guilt or remorse when their actions
cause harm.

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Strengths and Weakness of the MBT
I, Big Five Model, and Dark Triad (6 of
6)
• Other Frameworks
– DiSC Framework
 Personality characteristics can be represented on a
circle with more similar traits in closer proximity,
whereas more dissimilar traits are positioned
farther apart.
– HEXAC O model
 Incorporates an additional trait, honesty-humility,
into the Big Five framework.

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CS E, Self-Monitoring, and Proactive
Personality
• Other Personality Traits Relevant to O B
– Core Self-Evaluation: bottom line conclusions
individuals have about their capabilities, competence,
and worth as a person.
– Self-Monitoring: measures an individual’s ability to
adjust his or her behavior to external, situational
factors.
– Proactive Personality: people who identify
opportunities, show initiative, take action, and
persevere until meaningful change occurs.

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The Situation, Personality, and
Behavior (1 of 3)
• Situation strength theory indicates that the way
personality translates into behavior depends on the
strength of the situation.
– The degree to which norms, cues, or standards dictate
appropriate behavior.
 Clarity
 Consistency
 Constraints
 Consequences

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The Situation, Personality, and
Behavior (2 of 3)
• Trait activation theory (TA T) predicts that some
situations, events, or interventions “activate” a trait more
than others.

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The Situation, Personality, and
Behavior (3 of 3)
Exhibit 5.4 Trait Activation Theory: Jobs in Which Certain
Big Five Traits Are More Relevant

Note: A plus (+) sign means that individuals who score high on this trait should do better in
this job. A minus (−) sign means that individuals who score low on this trait should do better
in this job.

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Relevance of Intellectual and
Physical Abilities to O B (1 of 5)
• Ability is an individual’s current capacity to perform the
various tasks in a job.
– Intellectual abilities
– Physical abilities

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Relevance of Intellectual and
Physical Abilities to O B (2 of 5)
• Intellectual abilities
– Abilities needed to perform mental activities
 General mental ability (G M A)
 Wonderlic Ability Test

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Relevance of Intellectual and
Physical Abilities to O B (3 of 5)
Exhibit 5.5 Dimensions of Intellectual Ability
Dimension Description Job Example

Number aptitude Ability to do speedy and accurate arithmetic Accountant: Computing the sales tax
on a set of items
Verbal comprehension Ability to understand what is read or heard and Plant manager: Following corporate
the relationship of words to each other policies on hiring

Perceptual speed Ability to identify visual similarities and Fire investigator: Identifying clues to
differences quickly and accurately support a charge of arson
Inductive reasoning Ability to identify a logical sequence in a Market researcher: Forecasting
problem and then solve the problem demand for a product in the next time
period
Deductive reasoning Ability to use logic and assess the implications Supervisor: Choosing between two
of an argument different suggestions offered by
employees
Spatial visualization Ability to imagine how an object would look if its Interior decorator: Redecorating an
position in space were changed office

Memory Ability to retain and recall past experiences Salesperson: Remembering the
names of customers

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Relevance of Intellectual and
Physical Abilities to O B (4 of 5)
• Physical abilities
– The capacity to do tasks that demand stamina,
dexterity, strength, and similar characteristics

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Relevance of Intellectual and
Physical Abilities to O B (5 of 5)
Exhibit 5.6 Nine Basic Physical Abilities
Blank

Strength Factors
1. Dynamic strength Ability to exert muscular force repeatedly or continuously over time

2. Trunk strength Ability to exert muscular strength using the trunk (particularly abdominal) muscles

3. Static strength Ability to exert force against external objects

4. Explosive strength Ability to expend a maximum of energy in one or a series of explosive acts

Blank

Flexibility Factors
5. Extent flexibility Ability to move the trunk and back muscles as far as possible

6. Dynamic flexibility Ability to make rapid, repeated flexing movements

Blank

Other Factors
7. Body coordination Ability to coordinate the simultaneous actions of different parts of the body

8. Balance Ability to maintain equilibrium despite forces pulling off balance

9. Stamina Ability to continue maximum effort requiring prolonged effort over time

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Contrast Terminal and Instrumental
Values (1 of 4)
• Values—basic convictions about what is right, good, or
desirable.
– Value system—ranks values in terms of intensity
• The Importance and Organization of Values
– Values:
 Lay the foundation for understanding of attitudes
and motivation
 Influence attitudes and behaviors

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Contrast Terminal and Instrumental
Values (2 of 4)
• Terminal versus Instrumental Values
– Terminal values: desirable end-states of existence.
– Instrumental values: preferred modes of behavior or
means of achieving terminal values.

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Contrast Terminal and Instrumental
Values (3 of 4)
• Generational Values
– Lack solid research to support actual generational
differences
– Research does support perceived generational
differences
 Can lead to ageist or discriminatory climates

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Contrast Terminal and Instrumental
Values (4 of 4)
Exhibit 5.7 Dominant Generational Work Values in Today's Workforce
Generational Cohort Born Entered the Dominant Work Values
Workforce
Baby Boomers 1946–1964 1961–1979 Optimism, Competition, Hard Work,
Teamwork, Loyalty, Duty
Generation Xers 1965–1980 1980–1995 Flexibility, Informality, Skepticism,
Independence, Diversity, Work-Life
Balance, Self-Enhancement
Millennials 1981–2000 1996–2015 Competition, Open-mindedness,
Achievement, Responsibility, Uniqueness,
Quality Relationships
Generation Zers 2001–2020 2015 to present Multiculturalism, Diversity,
Entrepreneurship, Progressiveness,
Ambidexterity, Personalization,
Individuality, Creativity, and Innovation

Source: Based on Purdue Global, Generational Differences in the Workplace, accessed February 18,
2021,
https://www.purdueglobal.edu/education-partnerships/generational-workforce-differences-infographic/

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Implications for Managers (1 of 4)
• Evaluate jobs, workgroups, and your organization to
determine the optimal value, interest, and personality fit
with employees.
• Consider screening job candidates for the personality traits
that are most relevant to your organization’s values (e.g.,
conscientiousness, extroversion) and the requirements
most important for success in the job.

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Implications for Managers (2 of 4)
• Although many personality frameworks exist, there are
striking differences in evidence and empirical support
across measures. Based on these findings, managers
should critically evaluate personality frameworks and the
instruments used to measure them before making
substantive decisions based on their results. We
recommend the Big Five as this is the most widely
supported personality framework to date.

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Implications for Managers (3 of 4)
• Although some personality traits are more suitable for
predicting job performance while on the job, other
personality traits can predict how well employees do in
training and onboarding. Employees with certain traits may
do better with additional support and guidance to prevent
early turnover and contribute to their career development.
• Consider situational factors when evaluating observable
personality traits. Policies, practices, and even events can
make situations strong or weak or elicit the display of
(un)desired personality traits. Attempt to modify the
situation to encourage or dissuade certain behaviors but
recognize that this can sometimes have unintended
effects.

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Implications for Managers (4 of 4)
• Although abilities are often the best predictors of job
performance outside of proving that one can directly do the
job, they tend to be wrought with disparate impact
concerns. Exercise caution in assessing applicants and
candidates for ability unless intellectual or physical abilities
are necessary and required for the job.
• Resist the temptation to group coworkers and employees
into generational categories—the evidence suggests that
these differences are not very compelling. Furthermore,
these generational categories can lead to harmful
stereotyping and potentially to disparate impact or
treatment toward employees from protected age classes.

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Discussion Questions
1. Choose three different types of jobs that are open at your
university. Then, using John Holland’s typology, describe
what type of personality characteristics best fit the job
and why.
2. Think about jobs, internships, or leadership roles that
you’ve had. What abilities and traits do you possess that
made you well suited to your position?
3. Many Baby Boomers are retiring just as people from
Generation Z begin their careers. Discuss what this shift
means to values within the workplace. As Generation X
rises to senior management levels, how will their values
change the status quo?

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