The Effect of Mental Workload on the Manager's Control Performance, Covariating the Effect of Big Five Factors

Investigating the effect of mental workload on managers'' control performance while covariating the personality characteristics was the aim of the current experimental research. The statistical sample included 21 randomly selected of staff managers in Isfahan Province Gas Company. In addition to presenting the NEO Personality questionnaire (Casta & McCrea، 1992)، the participants''control performance in response to managerial tasks (researcher made) in different situations of mental workload with different manipulated timing were measured. The results of repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant effect of mental workload on control performance. While covariating the characteristics of extroversion، openness and agreeableness from the process had a profound change and resulted in non-significant effects (P=0. 480، P=0. 731، and P=0. 623، respectively). Based on the results، it is possible to predict performance of managers on the basis of their mental workload and their personality characteristics more precisely.