Foundations of Individual Behaviour Biographical characteristics Ability Personality Learning

Biographical Characteristics Age Relationship between age and job performance Perception of Older workers (+ve & –ve Qualities) Effect of age on turnover, absenteeism, productivity and satisfaction? Gender No consistent male-female differences Absenteeism?

Biographical Characteristics Marital status Effect on absences, satisfaction and turnover! More investigation needed e.g. couples in living-together without marriage! Tenure Seniority- Productivity relationship Seniority- Absenteeism relationship

ABILITY Contrary to what we were taught in school, we weren’t all created equal? Ability refers to an individual’s capacity to perform the various tasks in a job. 2 sets of factors: intellectual and physical abilities THE ABILITY-JOB FIT The specific intellectual and physical abilities required for adequate job performance e.g. pilots need strong spatial- visualization abilities. If the ability-job fit is poor, not even positive attitude nor high level of motivation will help!

PERSONALITY When we talk of Personality, we don’t mean that the person has charm, a positive attitude towards life, a smiling face, or is a finalist for ‘Happiest and friendliest’ in this year’s Miss Mauritius contest! A dynamic concept describing the growth and development of a person’s whole psychological system. The sum total of ways in which an individual reacts and interacts with others!

PERSONALITY DETERMINANTS HEREDITY (role of research) ENVIRONMENT (culture) SITUATION An adult’s personality is now generally considered to be made up of both hereditary and environmental factors moderated by situational conditions

PERSONALITY TRAITS Early work focused on popular characteristics such as shy, aggressive, submissive, lazy, loyal, timid etc. which revolve around enduring characteristics. Personality traits are enduring characteristics that describe an individual’s behaviour and they are exhibited in a large number of situations. Out of many traits identified, 16 were found to be steady and constant sources of behaviour

PERSONALITY TRAITS MBTI-a personality test (100 question that asks people how they usually feel or act in particular situations) that taps four characteristics and classifies people into one of 16 Personality types. Extrovert or Introvert (E or I) Sensing or Intuitive (S or N) Thinking or Feeling (T or F) Perceiving or Judging (P or J) These classifications are then combined into 16 personality types e.g. INTJ’s are visionaries.

PERSONALITY TRAITS The Big Five Model Extraversion Agreeableness Conscientiousness Emotional Stability Openness to Experience Research on Big Five: link between Personality dimension and Job performance= Conscientiousness. Extraversion predicts performance in managerial and sales Position

PERSONALITY ATTRIBUTES Powerful predictors of behaviour in organizations. Also what research reveals about the relationship between these attributes and Absenteeism/Job Satisfaction/ Job Involvement Locus of Control Machiavellianism Self Esteem Self Monitoring Risk Taking Type A Personality

LEARNING SHAPING: A MANAGERIAL TOOL Systematically reinforcing each successive step that moves an individual closer to the desired response Methods of shaping behaviour: 4 ways Positive Reinforcement Negative Reinforcement Punishment Extinction SHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT AND BEHAVIOUR

LEARNING and Specific Organizational Applications Using lotteries to reduce Absenteeism Well Pay vs. Sick Pay Employee Discipline Developing Training Programs Creating Mentoring Programs Self Management