Download Personality in the Workplace

Unit 2: Individual in the
organisation
Aim: Understanding the
impact of individual
differences in
organisations
Individual differences
“The ways we think, the way we interpret out
environment and the ways we respond to that
environment are unique”
Dispositional factors account for 30-50% of the
differences in an individual’s behavior
Examples:
1. Personality traits
2. Individual perception
3. Attitudes
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What is personality?
Definition:
•Set of unique traits and other mental
characteristics that give consistency to an
individual's behavior across situations
Source: Nature vs. Nurture?
What “twin studies” reveal?
The role of genes
The role of environment, including
culture
Gene X Environment interactions
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Personality Development
Does personality
change across the life
span?
Are there “windows of
opportunity” for
personality change?
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How do we measure
personality?
1. Observation
2. Projective tests such as
inkblots and TAT's
3. Validated paper and pencil
(or computerized) tests and
inventories
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So,
Let’s look at our
self assessments!
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Locus of control
• Definition: the extent to which one
believes that the things that happen to
them are under their own or others’
control
Spheres of control: personal,
interpersonal, or sociopolitical
Has effects on: Motivation,
leadership, job selection and
design, stress, and change
Cultural differences may
determine locus of control
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Locus of Control: Internals
Believe their own abilities and efforts control
the things that happen to them
Are independent, like to participate in
decisions, are involved in work, adjust to
work and handle job stress well, like to
influence others, are future rather than
present oriented, are achievement
oriented
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Locus of Control: Externals
Believe that others, situations, and fate control what
happens to them.
They prefer structure, do not like to
work independently, have few
expectations based on past successes
or failures, and are susceptible to
influence attempts by others
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Machiavellianism
“Degree to which one uses deceit, lying, and
compromising ethics to attain one’s own self
interest; strong believers in “the end justifies
the means”
High Mach’s:
Have lots of self confidence and self esteem
Are cool and calculating
Try to manipulate ambiguous situations to control them
Do not let feelings and loyalty to get in the way of
obtaining own end
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Individual perception:
“Process by which an individual organise and
interpret his sensory impressions in order to
give meanings to his environment”
Implications for management
Pay attention to employee’s perceptions about
his job, management practices and
organisational systems.
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Attribution theory:
“When individuals observe behaviour,
They attempt to determine whether it is internally
or externally caused”
( Robbins, 1998)
Evaluation of behaviour ib terms of 3
dimensions:
Consensus
Distinctiveness
Consistency
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Consensus: Degree to which other
people behave in the same way in a
given situation.
Distinctiveness: Degree to which the
person’s behaviour in a given situation is
similar in other situations.
Consistency: Degree to which a person responds in
the same way over time.
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Implication of attribution
theory
High consensus + High distinctiveness +
Low consistency = External causes
Low consensus + Low distinctiveness +
High consistency = Internal causes
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Attitudes
“ A mental or neural state of readiness, organised
through experience, exerting a direct or dynamic
influence upon the individual’s response to all
objects & situations with which it is related”
( Allport, 1954)
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Job satisfaction
“ A pleasurable or positive emotional state
resulting from the appraisal of one’s job or job
experience” ( Locke, 1976)
“ The amount of overall positive effect (or
feelings) that individuals have from the
appraisal of one’s job “ ( Arnold & Feldman,
1988)
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Determinants of job
satisfaction:
Pay/ remunerations
Working conditions & environment
Recognition: Promotion
Nature of job
Management style e.g autocratic
Organisation itself
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Just look
at the
picture
briefly
(10-15
seconds)
and write
the story it
suggests.
QUIZ: Test on locus of control
Rank the five values in each of the two
categories from 1 (most important to you)
to 5 (least important to you)
___ Ambitious
___
___
___
___
Honest
Independent
Loving
Obedient