Organizational Commitment in a Non-Western Context: The Kenyan Case

Abstract

This paper is based on Allen and Meyer’s (1996) concerns about the applicability of multidimensional organizational commitment constructs outside North America. Using a sample of 446 academic and 486 administrative employees from three public and three private universities in Kenya, this research paper tested the extent to which Meyer and Allen’s multidimensional organizational commitment is applicable to a Kenyan setting. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and exploratory factor analysis. The results show that: (a) organizational commitment in the Kenyan context consisted of affective, normative and continuance commitment; (b) continuance commitment was bi-dimensional consisting of ‘low perceived alternatives’ and ‘high personal sacrifice’; (c) affective, normative and continuance commitment (high personal sacrifice) is significantly positively correlated; and (d) continuance commitment (low perceived alternatives) has minimal correlations with affective and normative commitment.