What is commitment
Unfortunately, despite more than 40 years of theory development and research, there is still no easy answer to this question. Klein, Molloy, and Cooper (chapter1) provide a brief history of the field and identify eight distinct conceptualizations that have guided research . this lack of consensus in conceptualization may be due, in part, to the complexity of the construct itself. It undoubtedly also reflects the fact the theorists and researchers have come at the problem of understanding commitment from a variety of perspectives due to, among other things, differences in training, philosophies of science, and research questions. One of the objectives of this book is to work toward greater consensus, but until that objective is achieved, it is important for authors to be clear about the perspective they are taking for the purpose at hand. Therefore, the following describes my view of commitment and the focus I will take as I discuss its relevance in a changing world of work.