Foundations of Individual Foundations of Individual Behavior Behavior 22ndnd chap chap

Individual behavior.Individual behavior. Individual behavior is Individual behavior is reflected in terms of productivity, reflected in terms of productivity, absenteeism, job satisfaction and turnover absenteeism, job satisfaction and turnover in the organization.in the organization.

Biographical characteristics.Biographical characteristics. By By biographical characteristics we mean biographical characteristics we mean personal characteristics, Such as age, personal characteristics, Such as age, gender, and (Tenure) length of service etc.gender, and (Tenure) length of service etc.

Biographical Biographical characteristics.characteristics.

Because of the difference in Because of the difference in biographical characteristics of the biographical characteristics of the employee i.e. age, gender and length employee i.e. age, gender and length of service (tenure), the individuals of service (tenure), the individuals have difference in their behavior.have difference in their behavior.

We will study how the personal We will study how the personal characteristics of the employees affect characteristics of the employees affect their behavior within an organization. their behavior within an organization.

How age affects the productivity, How age affects the productivity, absenteeism, job satisfaction and absenteeism, job satisfaction and turnover of the employees.turnover of the employees.

Biographical Biographical characteristicscharacteristics

AgeAge

Age and productivityAge and productivity

There is a widespread belief that job performance There is a widespread belief that job performance declines with the increase in age, regardless of declines with the increase in age, regardless of the fact that whether it is true or not, a lot of the fact that whether it is true or not, a lot of people believe it.people believe it.

Older employees bring a number of qualities to Older employees bring a number of qualities to work i.e. experience, commitment, judgment, work i.e. experience, commitment, judgment, strong work ethics etc.strong work ethics etc.

Researches conclude that organizations with Researches conclude that organizations with older staff show better performance results as older staff show better performance results as compared with the organizations having younger compared with the organizations having younger staff.staff.

Age and turnoverAge and turnover Older employees are less likely to quit their Older employees are less likely to quit their

job as compared with young people, because job as compared with young people, because their longer tenure provides them with number their longer tenure provides them with number of opportunities i.e. higher wage rates, longer of opportunities i.e. higher wage rates, longer paid vacations, and more attractive pension paid vacations, and more attractive pension benefits.benefits.

So we can say that turnover rate is lower in So we can say that turnover rate is lower in older employees and is higher in young older employees and is higher in young employees.employees.

Younger employees when find more Younger employees when find more opportunities for their career growth they try opportunities for their career growth they try to avail them.to avail them.

Age and absenteeismAge and absenteeism

There are two types of absences in There are two types of absences in organizations.organizations.

Avoidable absences and unavoidable Avoidable absences and unavoidable absences.absences.

The younger people have higher rate of The younger people have higher rate of avoidable absences but older employees avoidable absences but older employees have higher rate of unavoidable absences.have higher rate of unavoidable absences.

the reason is that older people can the reason is that older people can become ill in crucial times of become ill in crucial times of organizations because of poor health and organizations because of poor health and longer recovery periods.longer recovery periods.

Age and job satisfactionAge and job satisfaction Job satisfaction increases as the Job satisfaction increases as the

employees get older in an organization .employees get older in an organization .

How gender affects the productivity, job How gender affects the productivity, job satisfaction, absenteeism and turnover of satisfaction, absenteeism and turnover of an employee.an employee.

Chapter 2 4

BiographicalBiographicalCharacteristicsCharacteristics

GenderGender

Gender and productivityGender and productivity

There are no consistent differences in There are no consistent differences in problem solving skill, analytical skill, problem solving skill, analytical skill, motivation, or learning skill between male motivation, or learning skill between male and female employees.and female employees.

Both male and female are equal in Both male and female are equal in productivity.productivity.

Gender and turnover.Gender and turnover.

female workers have female workers have higher quit rate than men. The reason is that higher quit rate than men. The reason is that they have more home responsibilities.they have more home responsibilities.

Gender and absenteeismGender and absenteeism The absence rate is higher in women in those The absence rate is higher in women in those

cultures where the home and child care is cultures where the home and child care is primarily women’s responsibility. Otherwise primarily women’s responsibility. Otherwise they have similar absence rate as compared they have similar absence rate as compared with men.with men.

Gender and job satisfactionGender and job satisfaction

Females seem Females seem to be more satisfied with their jobs. The to be more satisfied with their jobs. The reason is that they have naturally got the reason is that they have naturally got the quality of showing conformity with the rules quality of showing conformity with the rules and regulations of the organization.and regulations of the organization.

How does the tenure of employee How does the tenure of employee affects the productivity, absenteeism, affects the productivity, absenteeism, job satisfaction and turnover of an job satisfaction and turnover of an employee.employee.

Chapter 2 6

BiographicalBiographicalCharacteristicsCharacteristics

TenureTenure

Tenure and productivityTenure and productivity

There is a positive relationship between There is a positive relationship between length of service and productivity.length of service and productivity.

The reason is the increased experience The reason is the increased experience of the employee.of the employee.

Tenure and absenteeism.Tenure and absenteeism.

Researches show that tenure and Researches show that tenure and absenteeism are negatively related. absenteeism are negatively related. Older employees have higher absence Older employees have higher absence rate than younger employees rate than younger employees

Tenure and job satisfactionTenure and job satisfaction The older employees have better The older employees have better

understanding of job attitude, rules understanding of job attitude, rules regulations and performance level of the regulations and performance level of the organization.organization.

They have a favorable tendency towards They have a favorable tendency towards job satisfaction.job satisfaction.

Tenure and turnover.Tenure and turnover.

The longer a person is The longer a person is in a job, the less likely he or she is to quit.in a job, the less likely he or she is to quit.

Any way the employee’s previous behavior is Any way the employee’s previous behavior is the best predictor of his future behavior.the best predictor of his future behavior.

Abilities Abilities DefinitionDefinition

An individual’s capacity to perform the various tasks in a job.

We all are not equal in abilities, but it does not

mean that we are inferior or superiors to others inherently.

We have strengths and weaknesses in terms of abilities that make us relatively superior or inferior to others in performing certain tasks or activities.

Abilities Abilities

Types of Types of abilitiesabilities

Mental(intellecMental(intellectual) abilitiestual) abilities

Physical Physical abilitiesabilities

Types of abilitiesTypes of abilities

Intellectual abilities

Intellectual abilities are those needed to perform mental activities i.e. thinking, reasoning, and problem solving.

Types of intellectual Types of intellectual abilitiesabilities

1. Number aptitude.1. Number aptitude.

the ability to do the ability to do speedy and accurate arithmetic. For speedy and accurate arithmetic. For example accountants example accountants

Types of intellectual Types of intellectual abilitiesabilities

2. Verbal comprehension.2. Verbal comprehension.

the ability to the ability to understand what is read or heard and understand what is read or heard and the relationship of words to each other. the relationship of words to each other. For example any manager following the For example any manager following the policies of organization. policies of organization.

Types of intellectual abilitiesTypes of intellectual abilities

3.Perceptual speed3.Perceptual speed the ability to identify the ability to identify

visual similarities and differences quickly visual similarities and differences quickly and accurately. For example investigator and accurately. For example investigator identifying clues to support a charge.identifying clues to support a charge.

Types of intellectual Types of intellectual abilitiesabilities

4.Inductive reasoning.4.Inductive reasoning. the abilities to the abilities to

identify a logical sequence in a problem identify a logical sequence in a problem and then solve the problem. For example and then solve the problem. For example market researcher forecasting demand market researcher forecasting demand for a product in the next time period. for a product in the next time period.

Types of intellectual abilitiesTypes of intellectual abilities

5.Spatial visualization5.Spatial visualization

the ability to imagine the ability to imagine that how an object would look like if its that how an object would look like if its position in space were changed. For position in space were changed. For example interior decorator decorating an example interior decorator decorating an office.office.

Types of intellectual Types of intellectual abilitiesabilities

66. . MemoryMemory..

the ability to retain and the ability to retain and recall past experiences. For example recall past experiences. For example sales person remembering the sales person remembering the names of the customers. names of the customers.

Physical AbilitiesPhysical Abilities

DefinitionDefinition..

The capacity to do tasks demanding stamina, manual labor, strength, and similar activities.

Ability-JobFit

The Ability-The Ability-Job FitJob Fit

It is the responsibility of the management to first understand what types of abilities their job demands, for which they are hiring an individual as well as the employee’s abilities and to decide whether the candidate is fit for the announced job or not.