Person-organization fit and the theory of work adjustment: Implications for satisfaction, tenure, and career success

Abstract

The Theory of Work Adjustment (TWA) posits a relation between person-environment fit and job satisfaction and tenure. However, typical studies of fit have relied on occupational environments or general organizational descriptions. The present study extends the TWA by examining person-environment fit in organizational settings that are described with a greater level of specificity than has typically been the case. Moreover, although the TWA indicates that work rewards play a moderating role in determining job satisfaction, theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that person-organization fit may have a direct influence on extrinsic measures of career success such as salary and job level attained. Therefore, in addition to testing several tenets of the TWA, the present study provides a preliminary examination of the relation between person-organization fit and career success. Results provide additional support for the efficacy of the TWA. © 1994 Academic Press, Inc.