This study examined the interaction effect between person-organization fit(P-O fit), person-job fit(P-J fit) and optimism, social support on work attitude. In most studies, P-O fit has been conceptualized and operationalized for a variety ways. And th...
This study examined the interaction effect between person-organization fit(P-O fit), person-job fit(P-J fit) and optimism, social support on work attitude. In most studies, P-O fit has been conceptualized and operationalized for a variety ways. And there are no single scales for P-O fit. Therefore, present study 1 developed scale for P-O fit and investigated factors that considered importantly when people judge P-O fit.
Data is collected from various company employees in Korea with opened questionnaire. In the questionnaire, responses were formed in pairs matched person's characteristics with organization's ones. And then Exploratory Factor Analysis were carried out by collected responses for organization's characteristics. As a result of Exploratory Factor Analysis, P-O fit scales were found six factors such as 1) a growth possibility 2) relation-centeredness 3) justice 4) predictability 5) aggression 6) fufilling organization's duty.
P-J fit has also been assessed by various scales but those scales are not developed only for P-J fit. And it is necessary to develope scales which measure general abilities, personalities and characteristics rather than specific KSA. Therefore, study 2 developed scale for P-J fit and investigated factors that considered importantly when people judge P-J fit. With the same investigation method and subjects as study 1, P-J scales were found four factors such as 1) developable possibility 2) sincerity 3) professionalism 4) meaningfulness.
Next study 3 examined main effect of P-O fit and P-J fit on organizational commitment and job satisfaction. And moderate effect of optimism and social support for P-O fit and P-J fit is examined. Previously, most studies have been reported the main effect of P-O fit and P-J fit for work attitude. But some psychological characteristics can decrease negative effect that employees who are not fit with their organization or job have on. So this study predicts that optimism and social support have moderate effect for P-O fit and P-J fit. It was examined by using questionnaire contained the P-O fit and P-J scale developed in study 1 and 2. Data was collected from 405 Korean employees worked at various company. This data was analyzed by multiple regrerssion and hierarchical regression. As expected, the main effect of P-O fit and P-J fit measured by the scales developed in study 1 and 2 was statistically significant. Moderate effect of the optimism was significant only for the relation between P-J fit and job satisfaction. Social support had a significant moderate effect on the relation between P-O fit and organizational commitment.
However, direction of the moderate effect was opposite to the hypotheses. Optimism had no buffer effect for those who are not fit with their job. Instead, for those who are good fit with their job, optimism increased level of the job satisfaction. In the case of the social support, direction of the moderate effect was the same as optimism. When level of the P-O fit was low, level of the organizational commitment was not depend on social support. But for those who good fit with their organization, the more social support was provided, the more level of the organizational commitment increased.
P-O fit and P-J fit scales developed in study 1 and 2 can be useful in future research and theory development in fit research by providing scholars sound tool for quantitatively assessing P-O fit and P-J fit. Finally, we've discussed no only summary, limitations, contributions of these study, but also the direction of future study.