Do Work Values Predict Preference for Organizational Values?

Valores do Trabalho Predizem Preferências por Valores Organizacionais?

Valores del Trabajo Predicen Preferencias por Valores de Organización?

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to identify evidence that work values can predict organizational values preference, based on conceptual similarity proposed by the Theory of Values. A total of 254 Brazilian undergraduate students responded to the Organizational Values Scale and the revised Work Values Scale. Hierarchical regressions were run controlling for demographics. The results indicated significant explanation of variance for all organizational values. The most significant predictors were compatible with the hypotheses based on Schwartz's Theory of Values, revealing that work and organizational values are logically connected through an axiological structure. In conclusion, work values and preferred organizational values have adequate nominal commensurability for conducting Individual-Organization fit studies and implications for organizational socialization and vocational and career counseling.

Keywords:
values; organizational behavior; organizational psychology; individual-organization fit; theory of values