Chapter

Personality and Values

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1-2
 Learning Objectives

 Define value.
 Contrast terminal and instrumental values.
 Compare Hofstede’s five value dimensions.

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 Values
 Values
 The basic convictions that
a specific mode of conduct or end-state of existence
is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse
mode of conduct or end-state of existence

 Contain a judgement element

 Have two attributes

• Content – says that a mode of conduct or end-state of existence is
important
• Intensity – specifies how important that content is.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education 4‐4
 Values

Value System
– A hierarchy based on a ranking of an individual’s values in
terms of their intensity

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education 4‐5
 Importance of Values
• Values lay the foundation for the
understanding of attitudes
• Values generally influence attitudes and
behaviors.
• Values influence our perceptions
• Values help the understanding of
motivation

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Terminal vs Instrumental Values (Rokeach Survey)

• Terminal Values
– Desirable end‐states of existence; the goals 
that a person would like  to achieve during his 
or her lifetime
• E.g. prosperity and economic success
• E.g. freedom
• E.g. health and well‐being
• E.g. world peace
• E.g. meaning in life

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Terminal vs Instrumental Values (Rokeach Survey)

• Instrumental Values
– Preferable modes of behavior or means of 
achieving one’s terminal values
• E.g. autonomy & self‐reliance
• E.g. personal discipline
• E.g. kindness
• E.g. goal orientation

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Source: https://www.slideshare.net/ujjmishra1/attitudes-and-values-28839979 4‐9
Values in the Rokeach Survey

Robbins, S. P. & Judge, T. A. (2013). Organizational Behavior (pp. 145). Boston: Pearson. 4‐10
Generational Values

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 Hofstede’s Framework

• Five value dimensions of national culture:

–Power distance
–Individualism versus collectivism
–Masculinity versus femininity
–Uncertainty avoidance
–Long-term versus short-term orientation

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 Power Distance
 The degree to which people in a country accept that
power in institutions and organizations is distributed
unequally.
High in power distance
• It means large inequalities of power and wealth
exist and are tolerated in the culture
• It discourages upward mobility

Low in power distance

• It characterizes societies that stress equality and
opportunity

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education 4‐13
 Individualism vs. Collectivism

 Individualism
– The degree to which people prefer to act as individuals
rather than members of groups
– It believes in an individual’s rights above all else

 Collectivism
– It describes a tight social framework in which people
expect others in groups of which they are a part to look
after them and protect them

versus

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education 4‐14
 Masculinity vs. Femininity

 Masculinity
– It describes the extent to which the culture favors
traditional masculine roles such as achievement, power,
and control.
– Societal values are characterized by assertiveness and
materialism
 Femininity
– The extent to which a culture sees little differentiation
between male and female roles
– Emphasizes relationship among people, concern for
others and overall quality of life. (Griffin, Phillips & Gully,
2017).

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education 4‐15
 Uncertainty Avoidance
 It refers to the degree to which people in a country prefer
structured over unstructured situations.
High Uncertainty Avoidance:
 Cultures where people have increased anxiety about
uncertainty and ambiguity.
 Use laws and controls to reduce uncertainty

Low Uncertainty Avoidance:

 Cultures where people are more accepting of ambiguity
 Less rule oriented, take more risk, accept changes more
readily.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education 4‐16
 Long‐term vs. Short‐term Orientation
 It measures a society’s devotion to traditional values.

Long‐term Orientation
– Looks to the future
– Emphasizes thrift and persistence

Short‐term Orientation
– It emphasizes present
– Accept changes more readily

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education 4‐17
 Revision (Q1)
Which of the following terms describes basic convictions
that “a specific mode of conduct or end-state of existence
is personally or socially preferable to an opposite mode of
conduct?”

a) values
b) attitudes
c) affects
d) customs

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 Revision (Q2)
Which of the following is not one of Hofstede's five
dimensions of national culture?

a) power distance
b) flexibility versus rigidity
c) individualism versus collectivism
d) long-term versus short-term orientation

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 Source & Reading
Textbook
• Robbins, Stephen P. and Judge, Timothy A. (2019), Organizational Behavior,
Pearson (18th Ed.)
Chapter 4 – Values
• pp. 152-154, 157-158

Other reference
• Griffin, R. W., Phillips, J. M. & Gully, S. M. (2017). Organizational behavior:
Managing People and Organizations, Boston: Cengage Learning. (p. 60)
• Robbins, S. P. & Judge, T. A. (2013). Organizational Behavior (pp. 145, 146 &
152). Boston: Pearson.
Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Narendra_Chaudhary9/post/Influence_of_l
eadership_on_trust_organizational_performance/attachment/59d62af079197b8
077989550/AS%3A341225224851456%401458365841566/download/organizat
ional-behavior-15e-stephen-p-robbins-timothy-a-judge-pdf-qwerty.pdf

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Prepared by: Doreen Tse
 Source & Reading

• Values in the Rokeach Survey

Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/ujjmishra1/attitudes-and-values-
28839979

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Prepared by: Doreen Tse