The big five personality framework

mbs 1st sem organisational behaviour notes
 The Big Five Personality Model

3. The popular ideal, as well as the consensus from research, is that extroverts are the best managerial leaders due to their social nature, which leads to the belief that they are better at communicating organizational information. In the next way, introverts are commonly thought of as individuals who are shy, withdraw into themselves, and prefer to be alone. In light of the above statement, explain the Big Five personality framework, showing the relative usefulness of extrovert and introvert personality dimensions in managing individual behavior in organizations.

The Big Five personality framework is a widely accepted model for understanding personality traits. It includes openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability.


  • Openness to Experience: Openness to experience refers to the degree of intellectual curiosity and creativity. People who score high on openness are imaginative, open-minded, and willing to try new ideas and experiences. In organizations, such individuals often drive innovation and are comfortable with change and complex problem solving. In contrast, closed people are closed to new ideas, fixed in their ways, and often resistant to change.

  • Conscientiousness: It describes how organized, dependable, and goal-oriented an individual is. Highly conscientious people tend to be disciplined, responsible, and efficient. They often plan ahead and maintain high standards by meeting deadlines. In contrast, those low in conscientiousness may be unreliable and irresponsible.
  • Extraversion: It involves the tendency to be outgoing, energetic, and sociable. Extroverts are often seen as confident people, thriving in environments that require teamwork and communication. They are typically more comfortable in expressing themselves and engaging with others. While introverts are quiet, timid and prefer to work independently. 

  • Agreeableness: It reflects how cooperative and friendly a person is. Highly agreeable individuals are oftgen good team players showing patience and a desire to maintain harmony. Whereas low-agreeable individuals might be more competitive. They are cold, short-tempered, and more committed to their own needs rather than being a team player.
  • Emotional Stability: It reflects how an individual manages stress. It refers to the ability to remain calm and consistent in emotional reactions, especially in stressful situations. A person with high emotional stability is generally confident and tend to bounce back quickly from setbacks or challenges. 
Both extroverts and introverts offer distinct advantages in managing individual behavior in organizations. Extroverts often excel at motivating teams and promoting collaboration. They are comfortable in social settings. On the other hand, introverts bring strengths such as focus, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex tasks independently. They are often better at handling sensitive interpersonal issues and understanding the unique needs of individual team members. In some cases, introverted leaders are found to be more effective with proactive employees, as they allow space for others to take initiative.