The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between perceived organisational ethical climate and employee commitment within an Australian hospitality organisation, with the objective of determining whether employees' perceptions of the organisational ethical climate influenced their commitment towards their organisation, as well as the associated implications. The Ethical Climate Questionnaire and the Employee Commitment Survey were utilised as measuring instruments. The overall finding revealed a statistically significant relationship between the two variables with the results indicating that organisations possess numerous ethical climates which are perceived by employees in a manner which in turn affects their commitment towards their organisation. It is concluded that employees who are more committed to their organisations have improved attendance records and show lower absenteeism and turnover rates. The findings of this study confirmed existing research and generated new knowledge applicable to the hospitality sector. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Tidigare forskning visar att medarbetarengagemang är viktigt för att nå framgång i kvalitets- och förbättringsarbete. Vikten av ett högre syfte lyfts som en stark drivkraft för att uppnå förändring och resultat. Dessutom skapar tillfredsställelse av behov på högre nivå positiva känslor vilket bidrar till medarbetarengagemang och självbestämmande på arbetsplatsen. Syftet med studien är att bidra med ökad kunskap kring medarbetares engagemang i kvalitetsarbete, genom att undersöka vilken roll ett högre syfte och attraktiv kvalitet spelar. En kvalitativ fallstudie genomfördes vid en kommunal verksamhet som mottagit en kvalitetsutmärkelse för sitt systematiska kvalitetsarbete. En omfattande litteraturstudie genomfördes och därefter skedde datainsamling genom intervjumetoden Appreciative Inquiry samt studie av organisationens dokument och riktlinjer avseende deras kvalitetsarbete. Resultatet visar att det i den studerade organisationen finns ett högre syfte som handlar om värdeskapande åt verksamhetens klienter. Det högre syftet anses vara en av de viktiga egenskaper som gör förbättringsarbetet attraktivt och främjar engagemang och delaktighet hos medarbetare i den studerade verksamheten. Dessutom präglar det ledarskapet och bidrar till en öppen och tillåtande kultur. Studien visar även att fenomenet attraktiv kvalitet spelar en bidragande roll i arbetet med ständiga förbättringar då det förstärker medarbetarengagemang och främjar aktivt deltagande. Följande områden identifieras som skapare av positiva känslor och leder till att förbättringsarbetet blir intressant och extra roligt; ett högre syfte, ett engagerat ledarskap samt en öppen och tillåtande kultur. Analysen visar att fenomenen har både likheter och olikheter samt till viss mån även överlappar varandra. Relationen mellan ett högre syfte och attraktiv kvalitet är ny kunskap och bedöms ge ny inriktning till framtida studier. Dessutom är studiens resultat ett viktigt bidrag till verksamheter som önskar stärka sitt medarbetarengagemang i kvalitetsarbete. / According to previous research, employee commitment is assigned a great importance in achieving successful quality management. The importance of a higher purpose is highlighted as a strong driving force to achieve change and result. Furthermore, satisfaction of needs at a higher level creates positive emotions which contributes to enhancing employee engagement and empowerment in the workplace. The purpose of the study is to contribute with increased knowledge about employees' commitment in quality work by examining the role a higher purpose and attractive quality play to promote and strengthen employees' motivation and commitment. A qualitative case study approach has been executed on a municipal operation that received a quality award for its systematic quality work. An extensive literature study was carried out and then the data collection took place through the Appreciative Inquiry interview method as well as a study of the organization's documents, guidelines and code of conduct for quality management.    The thesis findings reveal that there is a higher purpose in the studied organization that deals with value creation for the organization's customers. The higher purpose is considered to be one of the important factors that makes quality work attractive and promotes commitment and participation among employees. In addition, it is reflected in the leadership and contributes to an open and permissive culture. The study also shows that the phenomenon of attractive quality plays a contributing role in the work of continuous improvement as it strengthens employee commitment and promotes active participation. The following areas have been identified as creators of positive feelings that increase the interest in quality work among employees; a higher purpose, committed leadership and an open and permissive culture. Analysis shows that the phenomena have both similarities and differences and to some extent they also overlap. The relationship between a higher purpose and attractive quality is new knowledge which gives a new orientation to future studies. In addition, the results of the study are an important contribution to organizations that wish to strengthen their employee commitment in quality work.