What Is the Meaning of Job Involvement?

Job involvement can cause difficulty in other life roles for a person.

Job involvement is generally described as an attachment to one's job that exceeds normal levels of commitment. The employee can become so involved with his job that it affects performance in other life role areas.

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One basic type of job involvement is when an employee identifies himself largely based on his job or work. If you ask such a person to describe himself, he would likely begin with his employer and position and focus mainly on content related to his job.

Esteem

Another strong sign of job involvement is when someone recognizes accomplishment or self-esteem only or mostly when it is related to her job. If she performs well on the job or gains recognition, she is more likely to have self-respect and appreciation.

Inter-role Conflict

Inter-role conflict is a major obstacle commonly connected to job involvement in research. Inter-role conflict is incompatibility between two or more life roles. When a job involved person feels competing pressures from various roles he plays, he is most likely to center on resolving the conflict in a way that preserves the job role.

References

• Toolpack Information: Job Involvement and Identity
• The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management: Job Involvement