Date

11-11-2026

Department

Graduate School of Business

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Organization and Management (PhD)

Chair

Jeremy Pickwell

Keywords

organizational commitment, ethical leadership, financial institutions, workplace conditions, organizational support, leadership

Disciplines

Business | Leadership Studies

Abstract

Organizational commitment remains a key concern in financial institutions, particularly as organizations seek to sustain employee engagement, productivity, and retention. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of employees within one financial institution to understand the factors contributing to low organizational commitment despite ethical leadership practices. Guided by Meyer and Allen’s Organizational Commitment Theory, the study examined why organizational commitment remained low, how low commitment affected productivity, and how employees perceived organizational efforts to strengthen commitment. I collected data through semi-structured interviews with 30 employees and analyzed them using inductive thematic analysis. Three primary themes emerged: leadership credibility shaped organizational commitment, organizational support and recognition influenced employees’ sense of value, and workplace conditions sustained or weakened organizational commitment. The findings showed that employees' cumulative workplace experiences, rather than ethical leadership practices alone, shaped organizational commitment.

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