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Organizational Commitment: A Proposal for a Wider Ethical Conceptualization of ‘Normative Commitment’

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Abstract

Conceptualization and measurement of organizational commitment involve different dimensions that include economic, affective, as well as moral aspects labelled in the literature as: ‘continuance’, ‘affective’ and ‘normative’ commitment. This multidimensional framework emerges from the convergence of different research lines. Using Aristotle’s philosophical framework, that explicitly considers the role of the will in human commitment, it is proposed a rational explanation of the existence of mentioned dimensions in organizational commitment. Such a theoretical proposal may offer a more accurate definition of ‘affective commitment’ that distinguishes feelings from rational judgments. The use of a philosophical explanation coherent with psychological findings also allows the discovery of a wider moral concept of ‘normative commitment’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Management Department, University of Valencia, Av dels Tarongers, s/n, Edificio Departamental Oriental, 46022, Valencia, Spain

    Tomás F. González & Manuel Guillén

Authors
  1. Tomás F. González
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  2. Manuel Guillén
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Correspondence to Tomás F. González.

Additional information

Tomás F. González Cruz is Senior Lecturer in Business Administration at the University of Valencia, Spain. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Valencia University. Likewise, he has a Doctorate in Business Administration at Valencia University. His principal research interests are: Organizational design and the way in which it is a source of sustainable competitive advantage, ethics, leadership, resource and competence-based theory, total quality management.

Manuel Guillén is Senior Lecturer in Management, at the University of Valencia (Spain). Prof. Guillén earned his PhD in Management with a specialization in ethics and strategic management integration. He has been Visiting Scholar at the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota (USA); at the Notre Dame University, Indiana, USA; and guest Visiting Student at IESE Business School doctoral program, in Barcelona. He has presented some of his research at the top conferences in the field (International Strategic Management Society Conference, Annual Conference of the European Business Ethics Network, EBEN) and has published in business ethics and management journals. Since 1997 teaches Business Ethics Seminaries in different Business Schools, institutions and companies.

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González, T.F., Guillén, M. Organizational Commitment: A Proposal for a Wider Ethical Conceptualization of ‘Normative Commitment’. J Bus Ethics 78, 401–414 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9333-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9333-9

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