Effect of the big five personality traits on organisational citizenship behaviour among Nurses in Cape Coast Metropolis

Abstract

Several decades have passed since organisational citizenship behaviour began to penetrate the organisational sciences. Recently, however, scholars have begun to critically analyze the motives that drive organisational citizenship behaviour. The present study attempted to explore the relationship between personality variables and organisational citizenship behaviour. Specifically, Norman‟s Big Five personality model-which includes, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness and openness to experience- were used to describe the various personality traits. It was hypothesized that the Big Five personality traits would be positively and significantly related to the two dimensions of organisational citizenship behaviour, namely; organisational citizenship behaviour directed towards individuals and that directed towards the organisation. A quantitative approach was used in conducting this research, through the administration of questionnaires using a sample size of 196 nurses. Results indicated that agreeableness was positively and significantly related with organisational citizenship behaviour toward individuals and conscientiousness was positively and significantly related with organisational citizenship behaviour toward the organisation. It was concluded that majority of the nurses fell in the conscientious and agreeable category, which were relevant to the occurrence of organisational citizenship behaviour. Hence it was recommended that Human Resource managers should look out for these characteristics in selecting nurses with these personalities for employment, which bring satisfaction to both nurses and patients. This will also lead to an increase in overall performance of the hospital.