Theory of Organisation Behaviour?

Emotional Intelligence Theory: Intelligence

Intelligence Definition: This is a persons ability to take on board and develop knowledge to be applied to certain tasks and skills. Many people confuse knowledge with intelligence, seeing knowledgeable people as the most intelligent ones, however we must remember that intelligence is the ability to acquire information and skills, not just remember information when it suits them.
Emotional Intelligence Definition: The ability to identify, integrate, understand and reflectively manage our own and other people’s feelings.
There are two views on emotional intelligence, one being from the point of view of ‘Positivists’ and the other from the point of view of ‘Constructivist / Interpretivits’. Below are what both parties think;

Positivists

Emotional intelligence is a thing existing independently from the minds of those who talk about it.

Constructivist / Interpretivist

Emotional intelligence is an idea, created by those who talk about it. Different people’s definitions of it reflect their personal preferences, rather than objective truth.
Goleman made this ‘emotional intelligence’ idea popular in the 90’s because he said that it is more important in business than technical skills or rational intelligence, something which, understandably, caused a lot of people to totally agree with him, or totally disagree. The main people who need emotional intelligence or people working higher up in the hierarchy, as they need to be able to understand people below them and know how to motivate them.

One General Intelligence Theory: Intelligence

Intelligence Definition: This is a persons ability to take on board and develop knowledge to be applied to certain tasks and skills. Many people confuse knowledge with intelligence, seeing knowledgeable people as the most intelligent ones, however we must remember that intelligence is the ability to acquire information and skills, not just remember information when it suits them.
The one general intelligence theory, also know as a structural model, believes that all intelligence comes from one general factor, which, as Spearman refers to it is ‘g’. This theory was well believed, a couple are noted in the title, with the rest being; Galton, Jensen and Eysenck.

Binet and Simon

These two researchers carried out an experiment in a boy’s school in France from 1905 until 1908. During this time they tested the children with learning difficulties. The tests involved answering questions which were designed to see how these students measured in certain aspects of life. As the results showed, all of the questions depended on one another, and that is why Binet and Simon believe in one general intelligence.

Spearman  

created factor analysis to further his research. He found that there was a high positive correlation between different tests of cognitive ability, including the likes of verbal tests and numeric tests. This led him to believe that each intelligence was connected into one. This he called ‘the general intelligence factor’ or for short ‘g’.

Theories of Multiple Intelligences: Intelligence

 

Intelligence Definition: This is a persons ability to take on board and develop knowledge to be applied to certain tasks and skills. Many people confuse knowledge with intelligence, seeing knowledgeable people as the most intelligent ones, however we must remember that intelligence is the ability to acquire information and skills, not just remember information when it suits them.
Theories of Multiple Intelligences Definition: The theories of multiple intelligences, also known as ‘systems models of intelligence’ look into the other concepts of intelligence, instead of just concentrating on the cognitive ability theories.

Gardner (1983)

Gardner believed that there were 7 different types of intelligence within each persons brains, these could affect each other, but were presented as independent. The following are the 7 intelligences from Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences;

1. Linguistic
2. Spatial
3. Musical
4. Logical-mathematical
5. Bodily Kinaesthetic
6. Interpersonal
7. Intrapersonal

Sternberg (1985)

This theory of multiple intelligence builds on Spearman’s one general intelligence theory, but instead of going for just the theory of ‘g’, it extends it by saying there are three subtheories, which are as follows;

• Analytical intelligence (Internal – Problem solving)
• Creative intelligence (Internal/External – React to situations)
• Practical intelligence (External – Real world intelligence)

 

Personality Types A and B: Personality

Personality Definition: A personality is a mixture of a person’s characteristics, beliefs and qualities which make them who they are.
Personality Types A and B Definition: These two theorists came up with two extreme ‘behaviour syndromes’ to allow us to look into different stress levels people endure. Each side of the spectrum was split into its own category; Type A Personality and Type B Personality.

Type A Personality

• Works better with long hours
• Works better with larger amounts of work
• Works better with tight deadlines

Type A Personalities are also said to be quite competitive, and therefore a food type of person to have within an organisation because they are willing to work and are always striving to be better. On the other hand, because they are always on the edge, it means that they may not be able to relax, look back on things and make sure everything is being done properly. Therefore it could cause problems within a business or management team.

Type B Personality

Type B Personalities are obviously the opposite, they are able to sit down and relax, be confident they will meet deadlines, without rushing and not doing the work properly. They also cope with pressure well and therefore can turn decisions around. However, their relaxed approach could mean that work doesn’t get done on time they are less likely to strive for perfection.
Friedman and Rosenman (1974)

Key Learning Points

1. What is the Definition of Personality?
2. What are the Key Points for a Type A Personality?
3. What are the Key Points for a Type B Personality?

Predicting Job Performance: Personality

Personality Definition: A personality is a mixture of a person’s characteristics, beliefs and qualities which make them who they are.
The following is information to help predict how a person will act within a job and what abilities they need to be a good employee.

• Conscientiousness: Some argue this is a valid predictor of performance. But negatively correlated with creativity. Conscientiousness is how you act around people, how careful you are with people and your work. It’s about self-discipline, carefulness and thoroughness.
• Emotional Stability: Has been said that it is positively associated with job performance. Emotional stability refers to whether you cope with situations, not bringing problems to work and letting them affect your performance.
• Extraversion: This has been found to correlate positively with performance in jobs such as sales, because people find it easier to interact with potential customers.
• Agreeableness: Positively correlates with job performance because it indicates that you get on with people better. However, for people in higher positions this is normally lower, due to them having to stick up, put there point across.

Catell’s 16 Personality Factors

There are also a few more in-depth theories to how people will do in jobs based on their personality. One which is still used widely today, even though it is getting older, is Catell’s 16 personality factors:

• Reserved v warm
• Concrete reasoning v abstract reasoning
• Reactive v emotionally stable
• Deferential v dominant
• Serious v lively
• Expedient v rule-conscious
• Shy v socially bold
• Utilitarian v sensitive
• Trusting v vigilant
• Practical v imaginative
• Forthright v private
• Self-assured v apprehensive
• Traditional v open-to-change
• Group-oriented v self-reliant
• Tolerates disorder v perfectionist
• Relaxed v tense

Eysenk’s 2 Dimensions of Personality

Extroverts

Stimulated by the outside work, the environment, consisting of other people and things. Below are some words to describe extroverts;

• Active
• Outward
• Sociable
• People
• Expressive

Introverts

Stimulated by themselves, from within, from thoughts about themselves and reflections of the past. below are some words to describe an introvert;

• Reflective
• Reserved
• Privacy
• Quiet

After thinking of the above diagram, Eysenk came up with a third dimension, this was called Psychoticism. This meant that his theory now had three dimensions; Psychoticism, Extraversion, and Neuroticism

Big Five Model (Costa and McRae, 1970’s)

The big five, also known as OCEAN, which will be explained later, describes main personality traits which are seen in people. Each dimension has an idea of what kind of people will fit in with each side of that dimension. Those in the middle of each of the dimensions are usually people who can move from one side to the other with ease, although in some cases this can be a problem because someone may be needed who always stick to their side. Below are each of the dimensions explained:

• O – Openness – Artistically sensitive, intellectual, interests, reflective, insightful, curious.
• C – Conscientiousness – Efficient, reliable, responsible, ethical, organised, self-disciplined, scrupulous.
• E – Extroversion – Talkative, outgoing, candid, energetic, adventurous, sociable, assertive.
• A – Agreeableness – Good-natured, forgiving, generous, non-critical, warm, cooperative, trusting.
• N – Neuroticism – Anxious, tense, hostile, excitable, emotionally unstable, impulsive.

(Arnold, 2005, 184-185)

Key Learning Points

1. What is the Definition of Personality?
2. What are the Four Personality Predictors?
3. What are the 16 Personality Factors?
4. What are the 2 Dimensions of Personality?
5. Explain the Big Five Model?