Chapter

Personality and Values

5‐1
1-2
 Learning Objectives

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

5‐3
 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

5‐6
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

7
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

8
Source: [Link] 4‐9
Values in the Rokeach Survey

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

5‐11
 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

5‐12
 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

18
 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

19
 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
[Link]
eadership_on_trust_organizational_performance/attachment/59d62af079197b8
077989550/AS%3A341225224851456%401458365841566/download/organizat
[Link]

20
Prepared by: Doreen Tse
 Source & Reading

• Values in the Rokeach Survey

Retrieved from [Link]
28839979

21
Prepared by: Doreen Tse