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CEO personality traits, strategic flexibility, and firm dynamics

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  • Aabo, Tom
  • Pantzalis, Christos
  • Park, Jung Chul
  • Trigeorgis, Lenos
  • Wulff, Jesper N.

Abstract

Reexamining CEO personality traits from a real options theory perspective, we suggest that the firm's strategic flexibility can be worsened by CEO conscientiousness and neuroticism. We use a measure of strategic flexibility as the firm's ability to take advantage of heightened volatility, which then results in superior stock returns. Our results suggest that strategic adaptability is impeded by rigid planning, resistance to change (conscientiousness) and lack of emotional stability (neuroticism). For firms that experience a decrease in volatility, the opposite holds. In line with trait activation theory, our results imply that the effect of specific CEO personality traits on firm dynamics and performance is contingent and context-specific. Our findings are economically significant and have important implications concerning CEO selection and management.

Suggested Citation

  • Aabo, Tom & Pantzalis, Christos & Park, Jung Chul & Trigeorgis, Lenos & Wulff, Jesper N., 2024. "CEO personality traits, strategic flexibility, and firm dynamics," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:84:y:2024:i:c:s0929119923001736
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2023.102524
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    Cited by:

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    2. Aabo, Tom & Hansen, Malene & Krog, Sara Husted & Kynde, Katrine, 2024. "Explaining differences in CEO gender diversity across industries: Do personality traits matter?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    CEO personality traits; Managerial ability; Strategic flexibility; Real options; Corporate performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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