Fitting In and Doing Good: A Review of Person–Environment Fit and Organizational Citizenship Behavior Research

Abstract

This chapter presents a comprehensive review of the relationships between different types of person–environment (PE) fit—namely person–organization, person–group, person–supervisor, and person–job—and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). Relying on both affinity and exchange explanations, we demonstrate that individuals who experience good fit are more likely to engage in OCBs. However, the strength of the relationship is contingent on many factors, especially with regard to the operationalization of fit (the kind of fit measure used), the characteristics on which fit is assessed (e.g., values, goals, personality), the types of OCBs studied (overall OCBs, OCBs focused toward the organization, and OCBs focused toward individuals), the source of the ratings of OCBs (self-report versus others’ reports), and the level of analysis (individual vs. unit). Mediators and moderators of the PE fit–OCB relationship are also reviewed. We conclude with recommendations for future research to better understand the PE fit–OCB relationship.