Person-job fit and its relationship with work attitudes: a study of Christian missionaries from Australasia : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
Loading...
Date
2007
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
Rights
The Author
Abstract
Do Christian missionaries who exhibit good person-job fit, (‘aligned’ with host nation colleagues
and ‘in harmony’ with expatriate colleagues), experience more positive work attitudes? Personjob
fit was conceptualized in terms of competencies. Perspectives on what competencies the role
of missionary requires were obtained from 3 groups of subject matter experts: host nation
colleagues, missionaries, and mission agency leaders. In Study I, subject matter experts (host
nation colleagues, n=22, missionaries, n=25, and agency leaders, n=23) rated the ‘Universal
Competency Framework’ (SHL) 20-level competencies. Host nation colleagues differed
significantly on 3 of the competencies, suggesting that in this sample, the perspective of
expatriates on the role of a missionary was not fully aligned with that of host nation colleagues.
In Study 2, a sample of 130 current overseas missionaries self-assessed their performance and
provided their own ratings of the importance of the competencies used in Study 1. Measures of
Person-Job fit (Demands-Abilities fit, Supplies-Values fit and Perceived Performance) were
regressed against outcome variables (job satisfaction, work engagement and satisfaction with
life). Results indicated that a person’s fit with the job as described by both host nation colleagues
(Alignment) and other expatriates (Harmonization) is positively associated with job satisfaction,
work engagement and satisfaction with life. These results offer support for competencies as an
effective method of describing missionary roles. Possible implications for enhancing the
effectiveness and well-being of missionaries, and other aid and development workers, are
discussed.
Description
Keywords
Competency, Expatriates, Job satisfaction