INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PERSONALITY TRAITS, MOTIVATION AND INNOVATION:

EVIDENCE FROM PUBLIC SPORT SECTOR MANAGERS IN TÜRKIYE

Abstract

From the perspective of the new public management approach, the administrative structure of public institutions and the individual characteristics of their managers play a significant role in developing effective and innovative management processes. In this context, this study aims to examine the relationships between personality traits, basic motivation sources, and innovative behaviours of Middle and Top-level managers working in the central and provincial organizations affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye. The study was conducted using a relational survey model, and the sample consisted of 345 managers selected through a simple random sampling method. Data collection instruments included Short Form of the Five-Factor Personality Scale, Basic Motivation Sources Scale, and the Innovative Behaviour Scale. In the analysis of the data, Student’s t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were employed. The findings revealed statistically significant, yet low to moderate correlations
between managers’ innovative behaviours, basic motivation sources, and personality traits. The effectiveness of public administration is closely associated with the presence of well-qualified managerial personnel. In Türkiye, there is a prevailing belief that public work will somehow run itself, regardless of individual competence or managerial effort. This mindset undermines the importance of human capital. Abandoning this passive and institutionalized approach and instead emphasizing the value of managers’ personality traits, motivational sources, and innovative behaviors can contribute significantly to enhancing organizational success, motivation, innovation capacity, and long-term sustainability in the public sector.