Congruence and Fit in Professional Role Motivation Theory

Organization theory has been preoccupied for many years with the bureaucratic form. Insufficient attention has been given to alternative designs, including, in particular, professional organizations of various types. This article considers these professional organizations at length within the context of professional role motivation theory. It also considers the concept of fit or congruence as it enters into professional role motivation theory and into organization theory generally. Considerable support for the congruence concept is provided via an analysis of data on over 100 labor arbitrators. The findings indicate that (1) arbitrators work in a predominantly professional context and (2) professional motivation is closely associated with various indexes of arbitrator effectiveness. Effective arbitrators are more motivated to provide help to others, more desirous of status, more interested in acquiring knowledge and learning, more professionally committed, and to a somewhat lesser degree more desirous of acting independently. These patterns are found to characterize the lawyers within the sample to at least an equal degree. The data indicate that the professional organizational form encompasses professional components of otherwise bureaucratic organizations such as universities and governments, professional organizations such as law firms, and private professional practices. It is apparent that professional systems are important in the practice of organizational design and that they are distinct from the bureaucratic form.