Abstract:

This paper attempts to test the validity in the Nigeria context of a widely accepted theory which suggests that human behavior is the product of a combination of both personal attributes and situational factors. The variables chosen for the study are: a) organizational commitment as a measure of behavior; b) employee needs as a measure of personal attributes; and c) organizational climate as a measure of the situation. The data for the study consists of the responses to a structured questionnaire of two hundred and ninety-three (293) academics from five private universities located in the Southwest Nigeria. The findings of the study show that while the theory is fully supported, the situational factors are far more powerful than personal attributes in influencing behavior.