Multiple Types of Psychological Contracts: A Six-cluster Solution

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the existence of particular types of psychological contracts. We take a feature-oriented approach towards psychological contracts, which allows more generalizability across settings than content-oriented assessments. In defining the types of psychological contracts, we rely on 10 dimensions that indicate the employees' expected entitlements as well as their expected obligations towards their employer. We assess the existence of types of psychological contracts based upon an economy-wide, representative sample. The analysis indicates the existence of six types of psychological contracts, all having different patterns of mutual expectations: an instrumental psychological contract, a weak psychological contract, a loyal psychological contract, an unattached psychological contract, an investing psychological contract and a strong psychological contract. Based on the profiles of the six types and its number of respondents, we conclude that the so-called transformation from traditional employment relationships towards 'new deals' is restricted to a very small group of young and highly educated professionals and managers.

Strategy Implementation Style and Public Service Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Equity

“…We use fuzzy c-means clustering [77,78] which, unlike crisp k-means clustering [79], and Ward's method [80], recognizes that each object included in an analysis may be associated with more than one cluster. Instead, degrees of cluster membership are indicated by membership coefficients (see, [81]).…”

“…Hierarchical regression analyses of the relationship between styles of strategy implementation and perceived effectiveness, efficiency, and equity are shown in Table 4 (as employed in Janssens et al [80]). To facilitate the regression analyses, the four clusters were transformed into dummy variables using the membership coefficient values for the positive cluster values generated from the fuzzy c-means clustering, rather than a single positive value as would be the case for crisp-set clustering techniques (a development on the approach in Janssens et al [80]).…”

“…To facilitate the regression analyses, the four clusters were transformed into dummy variables using the membership coefficient values for the positive cluster values generated from the fuzzy c-means clustering, rather than a single positive value as would be the case for crisp-set clustering techniques (a development on the approach in Janssens et al [80]). Four separate regression equations were calculated, with a different implementation cluster used as a reference category for each model.…”

Negotiating a Shared Psychological Contract with Students

“…Various typologies have been developed by scholars such as Rousseau (1995), Shore and Barksdale (1998), Guest (1998), Rousseau and Schalk (2000), and Janssens, Sels and Van den Brande (2003) to distinguish between different types of psychological contracts. For the purpose of the present study only Rousseau's typology is highlighted.…”

La rupture et la violation du contrat psychologique : distinction conceptuelle et conséquences sur les comportements de citoyenneté organisationnelle et l'intention de départ volontaire

“…La conception de ce contrat en termes de schéma perceptuel, mental et évolutif (Rousseau, 2001) lui donne un caractère subjectif, idiosyncrasique et dynamique. En dépit des controverses sur la stabilité structurelle des composantes du contrat psychologique (Janssens et al, 2003 ;Rousseau et Tijoriwala, 1998), nombre d'auteurs (exemple : Rousseau, 1995 ;Robinson et Morrison, 1994 ;Rousseau, 1990 ) soulignent l'existence parallèle de deux composantes distinguées en fonction de l'horizon temporel et de la tangibilité des promesses. Le contrat transactionnel, enraciné dans l'échange économique, inclut des obligations à caractère monétaire ou matériel, explicites et à court terme.…”