IN ORIGINAL

Organisational commitment; professionalism; perceived organisational support; social exchange; human resource management; accountants; scientists, pharmaceuticals. This thesis presents an exploratory study into the nature of organisational commitment among professional employees. 'fhe thesis argues that the classic definition of commitment (Mowday, Porter and Steers, 1982) has been superseded by a reshaped psychological contract that affects the employment relationship in post-industrial society. Following exploratory, qualitative research organisational commitment was conceptualised as a multi-dimensional construct involving the congruence of individual and organisational goals, effort directed at goal achievement and innovation in the work place. A Behavioural Commitment Scale was developed and construct validity was examined through a cross-sectional, quantitative survey of 329 pharmaceutical chemists, 166 public sector accountants and 138 private sector accountants. Social exchange theory is used to contextualise a study of how behavioural commitment is related to professionalism, perceived organisational support and social exchang