Extending Latent Role and Psychological Contract Theories to Predict Intent to Turnover and Politics in Business Organizations

Abstract

Organizational researchers broadly accept Gouldner's (1957, 1958) early work describing the cosmopolitan-local latent role construct. In practice, however, measurement and external validity issues appear to have inhibited a more broad application to the general workplace environment. The present research provides a model demonstrating that local and cosmopolitan latent roles relate to such career and job concerns as job fit to the psychological contract and job satisfaction. These variables, in turn, predict intention to quit and organizational politics. Results are discussed in the context of structural equation modeling, which provides both theoretical and practical implications for better understanding quit rates and political behavior.