The Interplay Between Personality Traits, Employee Duty Orientation, and Leadership Competence in Nigerian FMCG Companies: A PLS-SEM Approach

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/csp.2026.10.3.405

Abstract

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in Nigeria operate in volatile, high-volume markets that require reliable execution and adaptable leadership. This article develops and tests a structural model linking employees’ personality traits, leadership competence, and operational performance through employee-duty orientation. The study used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze data from 244 employees carefully selected from 20 fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in Nigeria through a sampling approach. The results revealed a direct and positive relationship between operational performance (OP) and personality traits (PT), as well as a significant positive relationship between leadership competence and OP. The findings also indicate that employee duty orientation partially mediates the relationship between personality traits and operational performance. Based on deontic trait theory and a heuristic framework established within the Nigerian context, the researcher argues that duty orientation and an internalized sense of obligation toward one’s team act as key motivational channels through which trait dispositions influence behavior. Furthermore, leadership competence arises from these characteristics and functions as a contextual factor that amplifies the effect of duty orientation on performance. Therefore, in practical terms, the findings can guide leadership development and human resource strategies not only in the FMCG industry in Nigeria but also globally, particularly in similarly volatile or resource-limited settings, thereby broadening the study’s potential impact.

Author Biography

Banji Rildwan Olaleye, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

Banji Rildwan Olaleye, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, a researcher at North-West University Business School, South Africa, specializes in organizational studies and strategy. He mentors early-career researchers and postgraduate students, guiding research and publishing. Having published over 70 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference papers in reputable journals indexed by Web of Science, Scopus, CABS, and ABDC, he specializes in management, organizational studies, and human resources. His research highlights leadership, workplace resources, and trust in organizational outcomes. With a strong research and teaching background, he aims to bridge theory and practice, focusing on improving organizational effectiveness in Africa and globally via leadership, employee practices, and sustainability.

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Published
2026-10-05
How to Cite
Olaleye, B. (2026). The Interplay Between Personality Traits, Employee Duty Orientation, and Leadership Competence in Nigerian FMCG Companies: A PLS-SEM Approach. Changing Societies & Personalities, 10(3), 669-704. doi:10.15826/csp.2026.10.3.405
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Vol. 10, No. 3 (2026)
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