Personality I:Measuring differences in

organizations

Road Map for Course• Personality

I I

I

I I

I

• Relationships

• Group

• Context

Measuring Personality

• Specific: Mach, Type A

Measuring Personality• General: Big 5

– Openness– Conscientiousness– Extroversion– Agreeableness

– Neuroticism• General: Myers

Briggs Type Indicator

S NAcquiring information

(search behavior)sensing intuition

T FMaking decisions

(using information)thinking feeling

J P

Establishing goals(values)

judging perceiving

E IManaging relationships

(energy)extroversion introversion

Work StylesExtroversion Introversion

Think better with others Think better by reflection

Work StylesExtroversion Introversion

Think better with others Think better by reflection

Sensing Intuition“God is in the details” “Big picture is key”

Thinking Feeling

Decide by principle Decide by needs

Judging Perceiving

Reach closure quickly Leave options open

Communication StylesExtroversion Introversion

Think out loud Verbalize thought-out ideas

Sensing Intuition

Specific, feasible ideas Novel, general ideas

Thinking Feeling

Logic, facts, data Personal, lively anecdotes

Judging Perceiving

Focus on task at hand Focus on process

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

Extrovert > 4 < Introvert

Sensing > 4 < Intuiting

Thinking > 4 < Feeling

Judging > 4 < Perceiving

49% 20% 31%

22% 37% 41%

49% 31% 20%

61% 19% 20%

Personality differences in organizations

• Working relationships– Source of personal bias– Blinders

• In groups – Conflict and misunderstanding– Complementary: perspective, flexibility, creativity

• Group projects– Achieve balance

Limitations• Cognitive only• Few dominant on all: we can do both• We can behave and change against

type• Simplified, Static, Imperfect• Good for:

– Self awareness– Managing relationships – Making groups work

Key Themes

• Preferences in work styles and communication

• Source of conflict, but also key to high performance

• Application: getting the right mix• Other differences: race, gender, age