28 pages
This chapter introduces the variables that influence individual behavior/performance by focusing on five major variables: demographic factors, abilities and skills, perception, attitudes, and personality. The discussion begins by explaining the importance of individual differences and how demographic factors, in combination with genetic factors, attitudes, personality, and locus of control influence work behavior and job satisfaction. The chapter concludes with a discussion of creativity and its value in the workplace.
Individual differences (demographic factors, abilities and skills, perception, attitudes, and personality) have a direct effect on work behavior and performance
Diversity includes both primary (stable) dimensions like age, gender, and race, and secondary (changeable) dimensions like education and work experience
Key abilities include mental ability, emotional intelligence, and tacit knowledge, which differ from learned skills
Attitudes consist of three components: cognition (beliefs), affect (feelings), and behavior (intended actions)
Cognitive dissonance occurs when there is a discrepancy between attitudes and behaviors, creating mental anxiety
Job satisfaction is influenced by six key factors: pay, promotion opportunities, supervision, coworkers, working conditions, and job security
The relationship between satisfaction and performance can be viewed three ways: satisfaction causes performance, performance causes satisfaction, or rewards mediate the relationship
The Big Five personality dimensions are conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, emotional stability, and openness to experience
Locus of control determines whether individuals believe they control their fate (internals) or are controlled by external forces (externals)
Self-efficacy reflects belief in one's competency and has three dimensions: magnitude, strength, and generality
Self-efficacy has implications for selection decisions, training programs, and goal setting
Creativity can be developed by encouraging new perspectives, making it safe to fail, providing diverse experiences, and role modeling innovative behavior