Digital Technology Adoption as a Mediator between Personality Traits and Job Performance in the Nigerian Printing Sector

This study examines the mediating role of digital technology adoption in the relationship between
personality traits and job performance in the North-West Nigerian printing sector. Drawing on a
descriptive survey research design, data were collected from 300 publishing and printing
professionals using a structured questionnaire. The study assessed five dimensions of personality
traits; openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism alongside
digital technology adoption and job performance indicators. Data were analyzed using Partial
Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships
and mediation effect. The findings indicate that personality traits significantly influence both
digital technology adoption and job performance. Specifically, openness and conscientiousness
were strong predictors of effective technology use, while neuroticism negatively affected
adoption and performance outcomes. Digital technology adoption was found to enhance job
performance significantly and partially mediates the relationship between personality traits and
performance. These results suggest that employees’ psychological dispositions shape their
engagement with digital tools, which in turn improves operational efficiency, accuracy, and
overall work outcomes. The study contributes to organisational and industrial psychology
literature by highlighting the interplay between human traits and digital adoption in developing
country industrial contexts. Practically, it emphasizes the need for printing organizations to align
human resource strategies with digital transformation initiatives, including personality-informed
recruitment, continuous technology training, and supportive management practices. The findings
underscore that successful digital integration requires both technological investment and
psychological readiness among employees.