Psychological contracts: are they still relevant?

Article

Maguire, Heather. 2002. "Psychological contracts: are they still relevant?" Career Development International. 7 (3), pp. 167-180. https://doi.org/10.1108/13620430210414856
Article Title

Psychological contracts: are they still relevant?

ERA Journal ID19743
Article CategoryArticle
Authors
AuthorMaguire, Heather
Journal TitleCareer Development International
Journal Citation7 (3), pp. 167-180
Number of Pages14
Year2002
Place of PublicationBradford, United Kingdom
ISSN1362-0436
1758-6003
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/13620430210414856
Web Address (URL)http://www.emeraldinsight.com/1362-0436.htm
Abstract

In dynamic business environments the concept of the psychological contract has altered radically. Empirical evidence from a case study conducted in one of Australia's largest banking organisations is used to illustrate how change can impact upon the psychological contract. Traditional loyalty to an organisation and continuance commitment are becoming less important as organisations pursue more transactional relationships with their employees and as employees are encouraged to pursue more self-interested 'protean' careers. The question could be asked whether, with such increased emphasis on self-serving personal and organisational strategies, the 'psychological contract' continues to provide a means of establishing effective relationships between organisations and their employees. The main conclusion is that the maintenance of such contracts still makes an important contribution to organisational relationships but that organisations need to seek ways of adjusting the terms of the psychological contract to meet the needs of an increasingly mobile and protean workforce.

Keywordspsychology; contracts; banking; case studies
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020350710. Organisational behaviour
520104. Industrial and organisational psychology (incl. human factors)
350503. Human resources management
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Byline AffiliationsFaculty of Business
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