Employee Motivation and Personality as Drivers of Performance: A Comparative Study of Public and Private Organizations in Gampaha District

Abstract

The impact of psychological motivation and personality traits on employee performance in Sri Lanka's evolving organizational environment is examined in this study. Elton Mayo's Human Relations Theory is used to compare the public and private sectors, with a focus on North Sales (Pvt) Ltd. and the Gampaha Divisional Secretariat, in order to highlight the importance of interpersonal relationships, managerial support, and employee well-being. Data were collected using a mixed-method approach, including structured questionnaires and unstructured interviews with managers and staff. Quantitative analysis revealed higher mean motivation scores in the private sector (M = 4.2) compared to the public sector (M = 3.3), with similarly higher scores for career development (Private M = 4.1; Public M = 3.2) and salary satisfaction (Private M = 4.3; Public M = 3.1). Correlation analysis indicated strong positive relationships between motivation, personality traits, and performance (r = 0.68 0.74, p < 0.01). Qualitative interviews highlighted initiative, adaptability, and resilience as key traits contributing to enhanced performance. Conversely, public sector responses revealed moderate levels of motivation and neutral attitudes toward innovation. The study comes to the conclusion that performance is greatly improved when job roles and motivational technique are in line with individual personality traits. Stronger career development opportunities, communication, and recognition systems are among the recommendations, especially for public sector organizations.