Personality & Individual Differences

Be yourself is the worst advice you can give some people. --T. Masson

Factors that influence Individual Behavior:

Biographical Characteristics Abilities Personality Emotional Intelligence

Demographic Characteristics
Age Gender Marital status Tenure Dependent variables:
Productivity (Job performance) Absenteeism Turnover Job satisfaction

Biographical Characteristics
These variables are more manageable when it comes to finding and analyzing variables that have an impact on turnover, satisfaction, etc. Age- older workers are less likely to resign Gender - women have higher rates of absence Marital Status Married employees have fewer absences, less turnover, & more satisfied. Tenure- negatively related to turnover, positively related to satisfaction

Ability
What is Ability?
An individuals capacity to perform the various tasks in a job.

Intellectual Abilities
That required to do mental activities (e.g., number aptitude, verbal comprehension, memory, reasoning, spatial visualization).

Physical Abilities
That required to do tasks demanding stamina, dexterity, strength, and similar characteristics.

The Ability - Job Fit

Employee performance and job satisfaction are enhanced when there is a high ability - job fit

Abilities
Intellectual Abilities That required to do mental activities. *Found to be strong predictors of future job performance. Physical Abilities That required to do tasks demanding stamina, dexterity, strength, and similar characteristics.

Types of Ability
Intellectual Ability
Verbal Ability Numerical Ability Reasoning Ability Deductive Ability Memory Spatial Ability Perceptual Ability

Physical Ability
Motor Skills (e.g. reaction time, dexterity) Physical Skills (e.g. strength, endurance)

Managing Ability in Organizations

Ability-Job Fit using Human Resource Management
Selection Placement Training Rewards

Ability-Job Fit
The Ability - Job Fit Employee performance is enhanced when there is a high ability - job fit. We need to keep this in mind from an HR perspective as well as an individual trying to make a job decision. What predictions can we make if the fit is poor? If employees lack the required abilities? If employees abilities far exceed the requirements of the job?