An examination of the nature and phenomenological experiences of commitment profiles

Organisational commitment and its three components, affective, continuance and normative, represent a key dimension in the relationship between employees and their organisations. The three components of commitment combine to create commitment profiles which are potentially associated with distinct employee mindsets and differing levels of employee behaviours such as organisational citizenship and intention to stay. Despite an expanding body of research, the existence of differences in the mindsets associated with commitment profiles has only ever been inferred. Two mixed method studies investigated the proposition that commitment profiles generate qualitative different mindsets which impact employees’ behaviour. The findings of these studies empirically demonstrate that there are differences in employee mindsets and behaviours associated with different commitment profiles, and that the interaction of commitment components is more complex than current theoretical propositions suggest.