Relationships between employee commitment and organizational cultures: a theoretical framework

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between organizational commitment and organizational culture with self-evaluation as a mediator variable. The theoretical framework evaluates the culture–commitment relationship based on the characteristics of the individual and underpins explanations of commitment patterns assigned to certain dimensions of organizational culture. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a purely theoretical approach, an instrument of which is abstract model creation. Findings The individual factors that reinforce deliberate, affective and professional commitment are the hierarchy culture; self-esteem; and self-efficacy, respectively. Research limitations/implications The existence of the relationship between the four factors of self-evaluation and the dimensions of the competing values framework (CVF) can be justified by secondary data analysis, although the direction of the causality is still questionable. Practical application of the theoretical model should be supported by empirical analyses in the future. Originality/value Research activity in organizational psychology is still mapping the elusive relationship between organizational culture and organizational commitment. In terms of organizational culture, the model is based upon the CVF and uses the five-dimension model of employee commitment instead of the mainstream concept of organizational commitment. This theoretical framework is suitable for evaluating the relationship between organizational culture and commitment when considering the individual features of the employee and supports the explanation of commitment patterns assigned to cultural dimensions.