The three-component model of organisational commitment: An application to South Korea

We conducted two studies to determine whether the three-component model of organisational commitment (Meyer & Allen, 1991) is generalisable to a non-W estern culture using data from South Korea. In Study 1, we found that when the 6-item. versions of the scales (Meyer, Allen, & Smith, 1993) were trans lated into Korean, the psychometric properties of the Affective Commitment Scale were similar to those found in North America, but problems were ident ified in the Continuance and Normative Commitment Scales. In Study 2, we fo und that these problems could be overcome by adopting a revised set of item s written in North America. The new scales demonstrated good psychometric p roperties in terms of factorial validity, internal consistency, and criteri on-related validity with respect to turnover intention. We concluded that t he three commitment constructs are likely to generalise to non-Western cult ures, but that there might be a need to refine the measures for cross-cultu ral research.