The Association Between Demographic Factors and the Organizational Commitment of the Academic Staff: The Case at Bahir Dar University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether age, service year, qualification level, and sex influence the three dimensions of organizational commitment among the academic staff of Bahir Dar University. To that effect, the commitment level of the academic staff, male and female discrepancies in organizational commitment, and the relationship between demographic variables and components of organizational commitment were focused. In this survey research, data gathered from 735 participants, involved through proportionate stratified random sampling technique, were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. With the exception of the continuance commitment of those of first degree holders, females and with ?21 service years the staff have less than average organizational commitment. Except females who displayed moderate superiority in continuance commitment, sex did not show significant difference in the rest two commitment dimensions. While first and third degree holders have moderate differences in their continuance commitment, qualification level did not demonstrate significant difference in the rest two dimensions. Similarly, participants with <5 and >21 year of service have strong differences in their continuance commitment but not in others. Age reflected significant difference only in continuance commitment. All demographic variables considered in this study have no significant relationship with affective commitment. With the exception of age, three demographic variables have significant relations with continuance commitment, qualification level with negative relation. Regarding normative commitment age and service year have a positive and significant relationship, the rest two with no significant correlation. Since job performance and productivity are the functions of employee commitment, consequently, organizational success in BDU requires more attention for staff commitment.