P-E FIT OF NEEDS, VALUES, AND SELF IDENTITY AS CONTRIBUTORS TO ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

Many studies show that when organizations satisfy their members' needs the result is likely to be a heightened level of members' organizational commitment (OC). However, if one views the event of need satisfaction as one example of P-E Fit (Person Environment Fit); that it is in fact bringing about better fit between person's needs and the opportunities to satisfy them as offered by person's organization, then one is lead to seek other dimensions where P-E Fit would bring similar results. Two important dimensions come immediately to mind: (1) P-E Fit of the person's general values with the opportunity offered by one' organization to realize those value; (2) P-E Fit between the person's self-identity and the opportunity offered by his/her organization to allow expression of this self-identity. I report in this paper from several studies to show how the three dimensions of P-E Fit (need satisfaction; value realization; self-identity expression) contribute independently and cumulatively to variance explanations in OC. The studies I report about show that the levels of contribution of each of the dimensions of P-E Fit to OC is also differentiated according to the type of organization we deal with (whether it is mostly a business organization; mostly a value oriented organization; or mostly a community/family focused organization); and that it also depends on the characteristics of members and their personal focus (instrumentally oriented, or value oriented, or community oriented). Yet, even in business organizations the level of P-E Fit of values and self-identity determine level of OC to a large extent. The studies I report about were conducted on a wide range of organizations in Israel - regular business organizations, voluntary organizations, kibbutz communities, security organization, and extended families. I draw conclusions as regards the focus management should put on P-E Fit of other dimensions besides the satisfaction of personal needs.