Human Needs as Predictors for Organizational Commitment and Job Involvement: An Exploratory Empirical Study

While the literature on the determinants of organizational commitment (OC) and job involvement (JI) is vast, little has been studied about the impact of human needs. In search for the institutional stars, this study examines whether human needs can serve a predictor for both high OC and high JI. Exploratory empirical results based on quantile regressions suggest that the needs for achievement, belonging, and power are more important than others in predicting OC and JI. In addition, the basic needs profile does not seem different between the institutional star and the average employee, however, differences between the two groups arise from the differences in the intensity of needs. Preliminary evidence also shows that the profile tends to be slightly lower for female workers or senior workers.