Applying the Investment Model to Organizational Behavior: An Investigation of Commitment and Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Abstract

The current study investigated commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) using the Rusbult’s (1980) Investment Model. It was hypothesized that the commitment would predict OCB and workplace behaviors and mediate the effects of satisfaction, investments, and alternatives on OCB. Participants completed online surveys that also included measures of conscientiousness and Meyer and Allen’s (1991) Three-Component Model of commitment. The results showed that satisfaction, alternatives, and investments predicted commitment, and commitment predicted OCB. Commitment did not mediate the association between Investment Model variables and OCB. A regression revealed that the Investment Model better predicted OCB than the Three-Component Model. Researchers should continue to implement the Investment Model to study organizational commitment and its relationship to workplace behaviors.