MGMT 371: Organizational Behavior

MGMT 371: Organizational Behavior Spring 2011 Semester

Chapter 3: Individual Differences in Personality, Perception and Attribution

Respond to the following questions related to Chapter 3 material:

1. What are the four basic propositions of interactional psychology and what do they have to do with organizational behavior?

2. Define personality? What are the Big Five personality traits? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the trait approach to understanding personality?

3. Compare and contrast Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy (including defining each). How do they influence organizational behavior?

4. Compare and contrast Locus of Control and Self-Monitoring (including defining each). How do they affect organizational behavior?

5. What are the 3 types of Personality Measurement tools discussed in the text? Briefly explain the Myers-Briggs and what it tells us. 6. Discuss the Social Perception model. How is it useful to managers?

7. Discuss selective perception and stereotypes (What are they?). How do these act as barriers to accurate social perceptions?

8. What are first-impression error, projection and self-fulfilling prophecy? How do these act as barriers to accurate social perceptions?

9. Explain Impression Management? Why do we do it?

10. Discuss Attribution Theory? What are internal and external attributions? Why do we make them?

11. Give an example of a Fundamental Attribution Error and Self-Serving Bias. What are the managerial implications of these?