Impact of Big Five Personalities on Counterproductive Works Behaviors of Teachers: Special References to Kalkudah Zonal Education Office in Batticaloa District

Abstract

Employees play an important role in determining the quality of the product, the reputation of the organization, and the performance of an organization. Personality traits are predictors of employees’ behavior in an organization. This research aims to investigate the impact of the big five personalities on the counterproductive work behavior (CWB) of employees. For this study purpose, five research hypotheses were examined while considering the Big Five dimensions of personality, which are Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness to experience, which is believed that the big five personalities significantly impact the employees’ CWB. Researchers selected mixed methods for this study purpose and the data for quantitative approach was collected from 285 teachers in Kalkudah Zonal education office in Batticaloa through google questionnaires by using stratified sampling methods and Regression analysis was mainly used for analysing data. Further, Qualitative methods were used to validate the findings of this research. For this purpose, data were collected from 15 teachers through a structured interview using purposive sampling methods. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Results revealed that Neuroticism and Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, and agreeableness, have a significant impact on the CWB of employees. However, Extraversion has not significantly impacted on CWB. Openness to experience and Neuroticism positively impacted on CWB and Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness, have negatively impacted on CWB. Therefore, the researcher provides some recommendations to overcome those kinds of CWB. Those are, hire the employees carefully, communicate, take immediate action, encourage opposite thinking, prioritize the rationale than emotions, strengthen relationships with others, and facility management.