Subjective person-organization fit: Bridging the gap between conceptualization and measurement

In this paper, we present a critical examination of the literature on subjective person-organization (P-O) fit and highlight several conceptual and measurement issues that may be perpetuating confusion in this literature. Specifically, we reviewed 46 empirical studies that have measured P-O fit perceptions and identified three primary sources of inconsistency among these studies, including (a) how P-O fit is conceptualized, (b) the operational definition of ‘organization,’ and (c) the content domain used to assess P-O fit. We discuss several implications of this review, including the potential role that individual differences play in fit perceptions. We also make a case for the development and adoption of uniform, validated measures of P-O fit that incorporate the multidimensional nature of fit.