The Three Component Model of Organizational Commitment

What is

The Three Component Model of Organizational Commitment is a framework developed by social psychologist Allen Bluedorn that proposes that organizational commitment is made up of three distinct components: affective commitment, continuance commitment, and normative commitment.

1. Affective commitment refers to an emotional attachment to the organization and a desire to stay with it. It is based on feelings of identification and involvement with the organization and its goals.
2. Continuance commitment refers to a rational calculation of the costs and benefits of staying with the organization. It is based on the idea that individuals stay with the organization because they believe that it would be too costly to leave, in terms of lost resources such as money, training, or time.
3. Normative commitment refers to a sense of obligation or duty to stay with the organization. It is based on the idea that individuals feel a moral or social responsibility to fulfill their commitments to the organization.

The Three Component Model of Organizational Commitment suggests that individuals may have different reasons for being committed to an organization and that all three components may be present to different degrees in different individuals. It also suggests that individuals may experience different levels of commitment to different aspects of the organization, such as its goals, values, or people.

See Also

• Employee Turnover