Alternative Strategies That Can Be Employed to Mitigate the Effects of Factors That Affect Individual Behaviour and Performance.

1.1. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this paper is to suggest and explain alternative strategies that can be employed to mitigate the effects of factors that affect individual behaviour and performance using practical examples. The paper makes an analysis of factors that affect individual behaviour and performance and then goes on to expound on strategies that can be implemented by organisations to mitigate the effects of factors that affect individual behaviour and performance.

2. FACTORS THAT AFFECT INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR AND PERFORMANCE

In order to understand the causation of human behaviour it is essential to know first what the term behaviour actually means. Different behavioural scientists have defined behaviour differently. Behaviour is defined as means "what people do in the organization, how they perform, and what their attitudes are." (Nancy Langton and Stephen Robbins, 2006). Behaviour is observed directly by studying the responses of people to their work environment. Indirect observation refers to how people describe decision-making processes and attitudes verbally. Behaviour is the result of interaction between individual characteristics and the characteristics of the person environment in which the behaviour occurs. These personal and environmental characteristics secure as foundation of individual behaviour.

Below is an outline of factors that affect individual behaviour and performance.

2.1. Personal Factors

2.1.1. Biographical Characteristics

• Physical characteristics -These characteristics are related to height, skin, complexion, vision, stamina, manual dexterity, shape and size.

• Age - The relationship between age and job performance is an issue of increasing performance. Psychologically, young people are expected to be more energetic, innovative, adventurous, ambitious and risk taking, whereas old people are supposed to be more conservative, set their own way and less adaptable. There is a relationship between age and absenteeism. Age may influence behaviour in physiological and psychological ways.

• Gender -Studies and research has proved that there are few, if any, important differences between man and woman that will affect their job performance. Gender has its impact on absenteeism.

• Religion- Religion and religion based cultures play an important role in determining some aspects of individual behaviour. Highly religious people have high moral standards. They strive for achievement and self-fulfilment.

• Marital status - There are not enough studies which could draw any conclusion as to whether there is any relationship between marital status and job performance.

• Experience - It is considered to be a good indicator