Individual Differences - Locus of Control & the Big 5 OCEAN Personality Traits PDF

Module Title: An Introduction to Organisational Behaviour Module Code: BH1124 Dr David Cantliff Learning Outcomes Understand the theories that help to explain individual differences Identify the attributes that underwrite personality Acknowledge that perception plays a role in the cogniti...

Module Title: An Introduction to Organisational Behaviour Module Code: BH1124 Dr David Cantliff Learning Outcomes Understand the theories that help to explain individual differences Identify the attributes that underwrite personality Acknowledge that perception plays a role in the cognitive and subjective construction of the self and our view of others 2 This Week What are Individual Differences? Personality Intelligence, Perceptions and attributions 3 Locus of Control Internal: – You are in control – Rewards are a result of their behaviour – Improved handling of complex data and problem solving – Achievement orientated – Independent/leadership issues (Rotter, 1966) 4 Locus of Control External: – Fatalism – Blame others – Less involved in jobs – More compliant and conforming – Easier to lead (Rotter, 1966) 5  Analysis of individual employees: Locus of control External Internal More compliant Independent and conforming Self-empowered Easier to lead Leadership Issues Change by telling Change by negotiation (Rotter, 1966) 6 Locus of control: Employees in a Crisis Situation External Internal Fatalistic Accepts responsibility for Blame Others actions / decisions (Scapegoating) Independent thinking often A job done to the averts crisis by resolving bitter end irrespective the problem prior to of changes going on escalation around them (Rotter, 1966) 7 “It’s not our accident” Tony Hayward, CEO of BP, press Conference regarding the Deep Water Horizon Explosion, April 2010 8  Disaster was averted at Sizewell A after a worker sorting laundry spotted water, January 2007 What if: “Not my job” 9 What are individual differences Physical qualities Demographic differences Abilities Skills Personality Why are they important? 10 Personality: Definition Personality represents the overall profile, or combination of characteristics that captures the unique nature of a person as that person reacts and interacts with others The pattern of relatively enduring ways in which a person feels, thinks, and behaves. 11  Personality: Determinants Environment Cultural Factors Heredity Social Factors Situational Factors Personali ty Nature vs. Nurture debate. How much is inherited? 12 Tellegen et al. (1988) Personality: the ‘Big Five’. Writers who developed the theory: – D. W. Fiske (1949) – Norman (1967) – Smith (1967) – Goldberg (1981) – McCrae & Costa (1987) 13 Personality: the ‘Big Five’ Open to Experience High Low High Low Conscientiousness High Low Extraversion High Low Agreeableness High Low Neuroticism 14 Personality and work behaviour  The relationship between personality and work is very much dependent upon the nature of work.  Consider the different personality traits for being a successful:  Nurse  Salesperson  Accountant  Engineer  Lorry driver  Professor 15 Personality: Positive & negative sides of the Big 5 Big 5 + - Openness Increased learning Easily bored when doing routine More adaptable to change tasks Conscientiousness Disciplined Don’t adapt easily to change Live longer Learning curve is longer Extraversion Emotionally expressive Impulsive Risky behaviours Agreeableness Better liked Poor negotiators Rule abiding Less likely to engage in deviant behavior Emotional stability Less health complaints Can take unnecessary risks Less hyper vigilant Less negative thinking 16 Personality: Summary Big 5 and Work Behaviour Criteria Big 5 Performance Conscientiousness Extroversion Openness Happiness/Satisfaction Emotional stability Extroversion Agreeableness Leadership Extroversion Conscientiousness Openness 17 Personality across Time (Roberts, Walton, & Viechtbauer, 2006) 18 Summary People are fundamentally the same but also very different. “Who we are” emerges both from our biology and our experiences Some individual differences are systematically and consistently associated with certain work outcomes. Some individual differences are more stable than others. 19 Reading Read Chapter 8 of Organisational Behaviour by Daniel King and Scott Lawley. REMEMBER: Lectures only briefly outline topics – the core text book goes into more detail. Seminar: Please bring a suitable device with you to engage in the quiz (i.e. laptop or tablet) Next Week – Week 5 Leadership Styles (Part 1) 20