Personal factors influencing individual behavior
The various personal factors influencing individual behavior have been
classified as shown in the following chart.
Perso
nal factors and Psychological factors influencing individual behavior
1. Age of an Individual influence behavior
Among the personal factors influencing behavior the most important is a
person’s age. Generally speaking as an employee grows older his level of
enthusiasm for work may decline. This happens either because the
employee feels saturated or because he lacks physical fitness. It is for this
reason that for certain jobs as those of sales representatives youngsters are
always preferred.
Another point worth mentioning here is that the older members of the
organization may not be prepared to adapt themselves to the changing
environment. They are generally conservatives who prefer to work in the
conventional manner. The rate of absenteeism is likely to be higher in the
case of older employees. The number of people opting for voluntary
retirement is also higher among elders.
2. Sex of an Individual Influence Behavior
Men in the workplace generally show greater interest in union activities.
Women employees, on the other hand, may be reluctant to even join trade
unions. Employers, generally feel that women employees are more sincere
and will show greater commitment towards the job. Many organization
prefer women employee for this reason.
But due to domestic obligations and unavoidable circumstances, women
employees may avail leave frequently which cannot be denied. Say for
example, a pregnant employee may avail maternity leave which cannot be
neglected as per law. So, sexual differences here influence individual
behavior.
3. Education of an Individual Influence Behavior
The level of education of an individual does influence behavior. The general
belief is that education disciplines a person. An educated employee knows
how to get things done in the workplace without incurring anyone’s
displeasure. He does not lose temper but quietly achieves his goals.
The influence of level of education on a person’s behavior may also be
explained from another angle. A highly qualified person when offered with
lower level job, may not show enthusiasm in his job. Such a person
deserves a better placement. On the other hand, if a person with lower
qualification is placed in a higher level job he cannot perform well in his
duties. Thus, Selection and placement of the right person for the right job
is very much important.
4. Marital Status of an Individual Influence Behavior
The need for a secured job and stable income is greater in case of married
employees. A married employee has greater domestic commitments and
therefore adapts himself to the needs of the organization. He cannot resign
his job in case he derives less or no job satisfaction or finds the work
environment not conducive.
On the other hand, an unmarried employee without much domestic
commitments may find a better job if the present job does not give him
satisfaction. So, marital status of an employee influence behavior.
5. Potentials of an Individual influence Behavior
Needless to say, the potentials of an individual influence his behavior. A
person with the ability to perform any task effortlessly is able to be
emphatic. He is in a position to demand better status in the organization. It
is only people with greater potentials who contribute significantly to the
progress of any organization. It is, therefore, quite natural that such people
are given higher remuneration and greater decision-making authority.
A sales officer, for example, who always attains or exceeds his targets has to
be given greater incentives failing which he may leave the organization and
join some other organization that recognizes his potentials.
Psychological Factors influencing Individual
Behavior
Various psychological factors influencing individual behavior are briefly
explained as follows.
1. Personality of an Individual influence behavior
The personality of a person, as misunderstood by many, is not just
determined by his physical appearance alone. The physical characteristics
of a person, no doubt, are important but these get noticed only if
accompanied by certain intellectual qualities as stated below:
i. Communication ability
ii. Inquisitiveness
iii. Perseverance
iv. Reasoning power
v. Leadership capacity and so on.
An individual, who possesses the attributes mentioned above, can certainly
command respect wherever he is. Such a person is always able to achieve
what he wants to achieve.
2. Perception of an Individual Influence Behavior
Perception is the process of knowing or understanding. A given situation is
perceived differently by different people. If the perception of a person is
correct he/his organization stands to benefit. If it turns out to be incorrect
he/his organization loses.
Every organization requires people who are in a position to perceive things
right. A person without the capacity to make correct perceptions has to
listen to those who possess such a capacity. So perception of individuals
greatly influence their behavior.
3. Attitudes of Individuals Influence Behavior
In the context of the workplace, attitude is the feeling of an employee about
his job, his superiors and fellow-employees. Attitude may be positive or
negative. An employee with a positive attitude likes his job, carries out the
tasks assigned by his superior and maintains friendly relationships with the
fellow-employees.
Employees with a negative attitude, on the other hand, are insincere in
their work. They quarrel frequently with their superiors and fellow-
workmen.
4. Values of an Individual Influence Behavior
The ‘values’ of a person indicate to him as to what is good and what is bad.
Different people have different values. For example, some people are
spendthrifts while others consciously save. Some contribute to charity
while others do not.
In the workplace the values of an individual do influence his behavior. For
example, if an employee’s value system tells him that he should not strike
work to express his grievances to the employer, he will not take part in
strikes. Likewise, an employee, who wants to be sincere in his work, will
not be whiling away his time.
5. Learning Influence Behavior
Learning is the process of bringing about changes in an individual’s
behavior. Employee absenteeism, for example, may be a problem faced in
many organizations. As employees are eligible for certain types of leave,
e.g., casual leave, sick leave, earned leave etc., they may be willing to avail
the same. But this affects employee attendance.
To secure better employee attendance certain measures may be adopted.
For example, casual leave and sick leave can be made encashable. Such a
measure would encourage good attendance.
https://accountlearning.com/personal-psychological-factors-influencing-individual-behavior-organization/
Orbis-GERN (Allan Gray Orbis Foundation – Global Entrepreneurship Research Network)
Es = K + E + S + P expresses entrepreneurial success as the sum of four broad
dimensions in addition to the Big Five.
Ordinal scale is the 2nd level of measurement that reports the ranking and ordering of the
data without actually establishing the degree of variation between them. Ordinal level of
measurement is the second of the four measurement scales.
“Ordinal” indicates “order”. Ordinal data is quantitative data which have naturally
occurring orders and the difference between is unknown. It can be named, grouped and also
ranked.
