Fitting square pegs into round holes: mapping the domain of contingent work arrangements onto the psychological contract

In this paper, we have endeavored to integrate the literature on psychologi cal contracts with the literature on contingent work arrangements, We have further developed the theoretical foundation of the psychological contract and its dimensions. After reviewing previous work on contingent employment, we illustrate how the dimensions of psychological contracts (stability, sc ope, tangibility, focus, time frame, particularism, multiple agency and vol ition) highlight the differences and similarities among alternative employm ent arrangements in a meaningful and parsimonious manner. In doing so, we h ave sought to offer an alternative to the categorization of employment arra ngements that has, thus far, made comparisons across studies difficult, In addition, we argue that the dimensions of psychological contracts, more so than the content of these contracts, are more generalizable across various types of work arrangements, as well as across different types of jobs and a cross national boundaries. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.