CRITICAL THINKING ABILITIES AS MEDIATOR BETWEEN BIG FIVE PERSONALITIES AND JOB PERFORMANCE OF ASSISTANT MANAGERS IN SABAH OIL PALM PLANTATION COMPANIES: AN EMPIRICAL PAPER

Abstract

Background: The oil palm plantation sector is a cornerstone of Sabah's economy, yet it contends with volatile markets, ecological sustainability mandates, and a critical managerial skills gap. Assistant Managers (AMs), who are key to operational success, often demonstrate deficiencies in problem-solving and initiative, underscoring a pressing need to understand the psychological and cognitive drivers of Job Performance (JP) in this high-stakes environment. Problem Statement: While the Big Five Personalities (BFP) and Critical Thinking Abilities (CTA) are established predictors of JP in general literature, their interplay within the agriculturally intensive oil palm sector remains empirically untested. Specifically, no prior study has examined CTA's role as a mediator between BFP and JP for AMs in Sabah's Oil Palm Plantations Companies (OPPCs), creating a significant theoretical and practical gap. Objectives: This study aims to: (a) determine the extent to which BFP influences JP; (b) determine the extent to which BFP influences CTA; (c) determine the extent to which CTA influences JP among AMs in Sabah's OPPCs and (d) examine the mediating role of CTA on the relationship between BFP and JP. Methodology: Utilizing a quantitative approach, data were collected via structured questionnaires from a purposively selected sample of 150 AMs across major OPPCs in Sabah, including IOI Plantations, Felda Global Ventures, Sime Darby Plantation, and other key industry players. Analysis was conducted using SPSS 26, employing descriptive, correlational, and regression techniques alongside mediation analysis. Findings: Key findings reveal that the BFP traits collectively enhance JP, with

Conscientiousness and Openness being the most significant drivers. Neuroticism showed a negative association, while Agreeableness and Extraversion had limited influence. CTA was significantly influenced by personality, particularly Openness and Conscientiousness. Crucially, CTA partially mediated the personality-performance link, explaining a notable portion of the variance in JP—highlighting its essential role in translating traits into workplace effectiveness. This mediating mechanism is a novel contribution to sector-specific literature. Conclusion: The study concludes that CTA is a critical cognitive engine that translates personality dispositions into measurable performance gains. Practical implications advocate for integrating personality assessments and critical thinking modules into leadership development programs to address identified skill gaps. This research bridges a theoretical gap, offering a framework applicable to global agro-industrial sectors for optimizing managerial efficacy. Future Research: The findings invite future comparative studies across different regions (e.g., Sabah vs. Sarawak vs. Peninsular Malaysia) to explore cultural and operational moderators in the personality-CTA-performance model.