Role of employee personality traits in job performance in the restaurant food franchise context

Abstract

The restaurant franchise business has recently experienced worldwide growth. Despite the popularity of franchise brands in the hospitality industries, few studies have focused on franchise-employee behavior. Therefore, this study examines how the personality traits of restaurant franchise employees influence job-related outcomes. Specifically, the relative effects of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and emotional stability on employee job orientation, job performance, and citizenship behavior were examined. Employee responses were collected via an online survey. The results of partial least squares structural equation modeling indicate the relative effects of employee personality traits on job performance. For instance, employee agreeableness and conscientiousness both led to positive job outcomes. Multi-group analyses showed differences in employee behavior between limited service and full-service restaurant settings. This study makes valuable theoretical and practical contributions that are potentially beneficial to the franchise restaurant sector.