Commitment System Theory

Cross, David and van Rossenberg, Yvonne (2024) Commitment System Theory. In, Hutchings, Kate, Michailova, Snejina and Wilkinson, Adrian (eds.) A Guide to Key Theories for Human Resource Management Research. Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 52-58.

Record type: Book Section

Abstract

Commitment, defined as a “volitional psychological bond to and responsibility for a particular target” (Klein et al., 2022: 137), is one of the canonical theories in human resource management (HRM) and features in just over 10% of published articles in the field (van Rossenberg et al., 2022b). Within the commitment field there has long been a realisation that (i) the strength of commitment can vary, (ii) individuals can be committed to a range of multiple targets, also known as ‘foci’ (Meyer & Allen, 1997), (iii) multiple commitments interact, and (iv) commitments develop and change over time. These have recently been consolidated in Commitment System Theory (CST), defined as “a network of interrelating commitments to a set of targets” (Klein et al., 2020: 117) most accurately represented as a dynamic system.

Text

Cross & van Rossenberg - Commitment in HRM - For Pure - Accepted Manuscript

Restricted to Repository staff only until 13 May 2025.

Available under License University of Southampton Accepted Manuscript Licence.

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