Are Your Values Mine? Exploring the Influence of Value Congruence on Responses to Organizational Change in a Division I Intercollegiate Athletics Department

Abstract

Only recently have scholars begun to focus on individual difference factors which can affect responses to organizational change. One individual difference factor neglected by previous research that may have an influence on responses to change is value congruence, or the similarity of values between the individual and the organization. Within the business and sport management fields, there have been few studies that have examined value congruence and organizational change, and none within the intercollegiate athletics context. Therefore, the current research was undertaken to explore the influence of value congruence on employee and student-athlete responses to organizational change in an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision intercollegiate athletic department. Findings revealed that individuals holding benevolence (concern for welfare of close others) values congruent with the organizational value orientation were more accepting of change than individuals holding achievement (obtaining resources for survival, i.e., winning) and power (focus on social status and prestige) values incongruent with organizational values. Theoretical and practical implications are provided, as well as directions for future research.