BIRDS OF A FEATHER: HOW MANAGER-SUBORDINATE DISAGREEMENT ON GOAL CLARITY INFLUENCES VALUE CONGRUENCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

A substantial body of research underscores the importance of congruence between employee and the organizational values. Yet, despite evidence that value congruence affects key individual and organizational outcomes, several... [ view full abstract ]

A substantial body of research underscores the importance of congruence between employee and the organizational values. Yet, despite evidence that value congruence affects key individual and organizational outcomes, several gaping holes still exist in the research. We add to existing public management scholarship by (1) examining whether and how value congruence affects an employee’s affective organizational commitment, and (2) responding to recent calls for scholars to clarify the processes through which value congruence shapes employee attitudes and behavior. Drawing on dyadic data compiled on a sample of senior managers in U.S. local governments, results indicate value congruence is associated with higher levels of affective organizational commitment. Additional, value congruence is even more important in instances when higher levels of goal ambiguity are present.