Commitment to work: the case of the heads of infrastructure departments at the UFMG

Abstract

The paper aims to identify the level of organizational commitment of administrative technician public servants who occupy leadership positions in infrastructure departments of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), in view of the theoretical perspectives of Meyer and Allen (1991). Data were collected through semistructured interviews with seven subjects and processed by content interpretation of statements collected in the interviews, seeking to select the excerpts that illustrated the evaluated dimensions of commitment. The results showed affective commitment as the main dimension in the occupational lives of the majority of interviewed servants, followed by normative commitment and lastly,instrumental. Personal satisfaction, dedication, the significance of work, motivation and participation in planning activities were identified as elements that express the affective dimension. Loyalty, gratitude and adherence to rules and values of the organization were reported as aspects of the normative dimension. Finally, stability, freedom and tranquility of working in the public sphere were mentioned as aspects associated with the instrumental dimension. Keywords: Organizational commitment. Job involvement. Public service.