Social Enterprises’ Social Orientation: The Impact on the Organizational Commitment of Employees

Authors

  • Donwe Choi Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University
  • Keon-Hyung Lee Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University
  • Hyungjo Hur Department of Political Science, Economics, and World Languages & Cultures, Purdue University Northwest

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20899/jpna.6.1.44-62

Keywords:

Social Enterprise, Social Orientation, Millennials, Organizational Commitment

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between social enterprises’ social orientation and the organizational commitment of their employees. The study also examines differences in organizational commitment between Millennial social enterprise employees and social enterprise employees of earlier generations. The findings from the study indicate that a social enterprise’s pursuit of social purpose, shared decision- making, and social performance are all positively associated with the organizational commitment of its employees. Additionally, the findings suggest that, in general, Millennials have a lower level of organizational commitment to their social enterprise employer than do earlier generations. Indeed, the organizational commitment of Millennials, we find, is primarily (and significantly) influenced only by shared decision-making. These findings contribute to the literature on social enterprise as well as to the literature on organizational commitment by providing insight into unseen aspects of social enterprise management from the perspective of employees. From a practical standpoint, these findings provide social entrepreneurs and managers of social enterprises with practical guidance on how to improve their employees’ organizational commitment.

Author Biographies

  • Donwe Choi, Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University

    Donwe Choi is a Visiting Assistant Professor of the Department of Political Science at Texas Tech University. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University. His research interests relate to social enterprise and entrepreneurship, nonprofit organizations, co-production, basic income policy, and social equity.

  • Keon-Hyung Lee, Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University

    Keon-Hyung Lee is the Arnold L. & Priscilla Moss Greenfield Professor of Public Administration and Public Health in the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University. His work focuses on performance management, social enterprises, publicness, employee satisfaction, hospital competition, hospital choice analysis, and the uninsured. He has published in public administration and health services administration journals.

  • Hyungjo Hur, Department of Political Science, Economics, and World Languages & Cultures, Purdue University Northwest

    Hyungjo Hur is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at the Purdue University Northwest. His research interests are in social policy, human resources management, workforce development, and co-creating social value through cross-sector collaborations.

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Published

2020-04-01

Issue

Section

Research Articles

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