Student Resource
Scandura, Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
1
Sample Answers to In–Text Questions
Note: Answers to Case Questions are available in the Case Notes. Answers to Toolkit Activities
are personal to the student therefore there are no sample answers.
Chapter 2: Personality and Person–Environment Fit
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Given the limited research support for the MBTI, what are the concerns regarding
organizations continuing to use it?
Question Location: Limitations of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Ans: I would primarily be concerned on organizations relying solely on the MBTI for personnel
decisions. It was developed on well people, and it is the most popular personality test in use for
organizations with over 2 million people taking it every year. It is a popular approach with many
2. Do some research and locate another personality test that is used for hiring decisions.
Explain whether you believe the use of these tests is fair for the selection of new employees?
Question Location: “The Big Five”
Ans: Answers will vary but here is a sample answer: The SHL Occupational Personality
Questionnaire is a trait-based personality test which assesses an individual’s competencies and
personality preferences in the workplace. It is often used in the hiring process at many large
3. How might knowledge of whether you have the Type A personality affect your decision
about taking a job in a high-stress environment? If you were to accept such a position, how
would you plan to cope with the stress?
Question Location: Personality Traits and Health Research
Ans: I would want to know the type of environment I was getting into if I had a Type A
personality. Given a Type A personality, I may likely welcome the challenge that comes with a
Student Resource
Scandura, Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
2
4. Evaluate the personality-fit theory by explaining why you think the personalities
adjacent to one another in the hexagon are most similar. Which personality type is most
like you? Does this provide insight into which occupations you might best fit with?
Question Location: Person–Job Fit
Ans: In many ways, Holland’s theory explains the obvious—people are happiest in jobs that
Research in Action
Leaders: Are They Born or Made?
1. In your opinion, is leadership born (hereditary) or learned (through training, for
example)?
Support your position.
Question Location: Research in Action
Ans: Short answer, yes. Leadership is both born and made. There are arguments on both sides of
the issue. Research suggests genetic factors contribute as much as 40percent to the explanation
of transformational leadership (meaning 60 percent+ may come from other factors such as
2. If leadership is both born and made as some researchers believe, what do you think is the
best way to identify leadership potential?
Question Location: Research in Action
Ans: I think the best way to identify leadership potential is to give individuals a chance to
display their leadership qualities. Challenging employees with a dilemma or an unexpected
Student Resource
Scandura, Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
3
3. What type of leadership training would you recommend to complement the selection
process?
Question Location: Research in Action
Ans: I would recommend diversity and ethics training for leaders. We cannot assume that people
can deal with all types of people so diversity training is important. We should not take for
What’s #Trending in OB?
Personality Traits and Social Media Addiction
1. Discuss the pros and cons of using social media networking sites. Do you feel that the
benefits outweigh the costs? Explain your position.
Ans: Pros: Social media allows me to stay connected to family and friends and it automates the
process of getting updated on what is going on in their lives. I would otherwise not have time to
stay updated. Furthermore, social media allows me to express myself and my beliefs to a much
wider audience than I otherwise would have attained had I not been using social media.
2. Reflect on your personality characteristics discussed in this chapter.
Ans: Answers will vary but here is a sample answer: I exhibit high levels of competitiveness and
definitively fall into the category of a Type A personality. This leads me to be at risk of FOMO
3. Research shows that women use social media more than men (but men tend to play
online video games more than women). Explain this difference.
Ans: Male personalities are typically more attracted to risk taking activities and other more
stimulating experiences, which are simulated through online video games. This is not to say that
Student Resource
Scandura, Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
4