The Effects of Climate and Personal Influences on Individual Behavior and Attitudes in Organizations

Abstract

This study investigated the relative, combined, and interactive effects of organizational climates and personal orientations on individuals′ attitudes and behaviors in organizations. It was proposed that congruence between organizational climates and individuals′ personal orientations would lead to higher satisfaction, commitment, involvement in work, adjustment to work, and performance, and less stress, turnover intent, and absenteeism. Questionnaires assessing personal orientations and work outcomes were completed by 533 teachers from 29 secondary schools. Climate scores were assigned to these individuals based on the perceptions of their peers. Results of canonical correlational analyses and moderated regressions indicated that work responses could be explained by a joint, additive function of organizational climates and personal orientations. However, multiplicative climate–person interactions did not significantly explain variance in individuals′ behaviors and attitudes beyond that explained by the main effects of climate and personal orientations. Implications of these findings are discussed.