The mediating role of person job-fit in the relationship between perceived organisational support for strengths use and organisational commitment

Abstract

For organisations to thrive they need to make sure that developing their employees is their priority, which is embedded in their human resource practices and strategy. This will create a favourable environment that allows employees to explore and use their natural abilities since they will be provided with sufficient job resources. These opportunities could lead to a positive person-job fit and organisational commitment outcome. The general objective of the study was to test a structural model of Perceived Organisational Support for Strengths Use (POSSU), person-job fit and organisational commitment, and also to investigate whether person-job fit mediates the relationship between POSSU and organisational support. This study was conducted to add value to the existing literature on following a strengths use approach and to assist in creating enduring and measurable value both to organisations and individuals when strengths are explored and used in the South African context. A cross sectional approach was adopted. An availability sample of (N = 176) from a manufacturing sector in South Africa, North West Province, was used. Structural equation modelling was applied to test the structural model and to determine the indirect role of person-job fit. The results confirmed that a significant positive relationship exists between POSSU as a job resource provided by the organisation and the employees experiencing an increase in person-job fit. Results also indicated that there is a significant positive relationship between person-job fit and organisational commitment. Furthermore the results showed that a significant relationship exists between POSSU and organisational commitment. Therefore the results reveal that person-job fit complimentary mediated the relationship between POSSU and organisational commitment with a significant indirect effect of 0.09 (p < 0.04; 95% CI = [0.01; 0.37]). This result did not cross zero to classify person-job fit as a full mediator, since the relationship between POSSU and organisational commitment remained significant in the presence of the mediator (person-job fit). The knowledge gained from the application of positive psychology in the workplace has proved to be of utmost importance in the development of both the organisation and the employee. Due to POSSU, employees are open to the opportunity of developing their strengths at work, and the organisation is able to measure the effective work performance thereof. This study adds value to the limited research on positive psychology and its intervention in the workplace within the South African context