Organizational Culture And Employee Work Commitment: A Dialectical Approach Into Construction Companies In Lagos State

Abstract

The shared system of values, beliefs, assumptions, norms, practices, and behavioral patterns that characterize an organization and guide how its members interact, make decisions, and conduct business has been a pillar that connect the members of the organizational . This study examined the relationship between organizational culture and employee commitment in Nigerian construction organizations. Grounded in social identity theory and organizational identity theory, the research investigated how organizational values and beliefs, organizational norms, shared sense of purpose, recognition and appreciation, and mission and strategy influence employee commitment. Employing a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from construction professionals using a simple random sampling technique to ensure representativeness and minimize selection bias. A structured questionnaire was administered to respondents across various construction firms in Nigeria, and the collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques including correlation and regression analyses. The findings revealed that all five dimensions of organizational culture, values and beliefs, norms, shared sense of purpose, recognition and appreciation, and mission and strategy - demonstrated significant positive relationships with employee commitment. These results underscore the critical role of organizational culture in fostering affective, continuance, and normative commitment among construction employees. The study contributes to organizational behavior literature by validating identity theories within the Nigerian construction sector and provides practical insights for industry leaders seeking to enhance workforce commitment through deliberate cultural development initiatives. The research recommends that construction organizations prioritize the cultivation of strong cultural foundations, establish robust recognition systems, and ensure clear communication of mission and strategy to build more committed and productive workforces capable of navigating the unique challenges of Nigeria's construction industry.