Analysis of five factor personality traits and work values within the scope of generations theory

Individuals' personality and work values have important effects in the workplace. Considering the personality and values are formed in the period when individuals are born and grown; these issues have to be examined in terms of generations. Understanding generational differences in the workplace is the first step in meeting the needs of employees. As each generation has different characteristics, organisations have to update their systems according to the expectations and needs of generations. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between five factor personality traits and work values within the context of generations. In this respect, the first part focuses on generational features. The second part is about the personality and five factor personality traits and in the third part work values were explained. In the fourth part, the relationship between generations, personality traits and work values was mentioned. In this study, Super's Work Values Inventory and Goldberg's Five Factor Personality Inventory were used. As a result, the prominent personality traits and work values of individuals from different generations living in Turkey were determined. In addition, the relationship between work values and personality traits was analyzed and the characteristics of the generations were explained. The results of the research generally support the previous studies and characteristics of generations. Also, a positive but low level significant relationship was found between the five factor personality traits and most of the work values within the generations. Key Words: Generations, Personality, Five Factor Personality, Big Five, Work Values.