Fitting In or Moving On: Analyzing the Antecedents of Intent to Quit by Examining Person-Organization Fit and Supervisor Satisfaction

AUTHOR
Elizabeth J. Muniz *
Mark M. Suazo **

KEYWORDS
Person-organization fit, met expectations, satisfaction, job alternatives, intent to quit Fields of Specialization: Organizational behavior, management, leadership.

ABSTRACT
The authors developed a model of the formation of job quitting intentions, focusing on three workplace attitudes (person-organization fit, met expectations, supervisor satisfaction) and their link to intent to quit. Additionally, perceived job alternatives moderate these attitudes. Tested on teachers from a US charter school, the study finds support for its hypotheses. The findings of the study expand the research on factors that affect intent to quit in two important ways. First, given the paucity of research that has utilized samples with teachers and the resultant inconclusive findings, the results reported here make a significant contribution to understanding factors that can lead to intent to quit. Second, it innovatively employs the Theory of Work Adjustment as the foundation for the model, regardless of the sample, thereby emphasizing the dynamic nature of the employee-employer relationship. The implications span theory, empirical research, and managerial practice, offering avenues for further development and application.