387 - MORE THAN WORDS ON A WALL: TESTING HOW PURPOSE-DRIVEN MISSION CONSISTENCY AFFECTS MEANING AT WORK

Session: D01S026 - Organizations and Meaningful work 1
AUTHORS:
Skhirtladze Ela (University of Barcelona ~ Barcelona ~ Spain) , Selvam Rejina (University of Barcelona ~ Barcelona ~ Spain) , Romeo Delgado Marina (University of Barcelona ~ Barcelona ~ Spain) , Rey Carlos (International University of Catalonia ~ Barcelona ~ Spain)
Abstract text:
Introduction: In the context of growing global interest in purpose-driven organizations, this research aims to contribute to the applied psychology of work by clarifying how and when purpose-driven mission fosters meaningful work. It addresses a gap in understanding the behavioral pathways and contextual factors, more specifically, by exploring prosocial behavior as a potential mechanism through which purpose-mission consistency translates into meaningful work, and organizational trust as a potential moderator.


Purpose: This research examines how purpose-driven mission consistency, defined as the alignment between a stated purpose, motivation, and daily practices, shapes employees' perceptions of meaningful work. Rather than treating purpose as a static statement, it is conceptualized as a dynamic, lived organizational principle a "why" that actively informs the "what" (mission) and the "how" (daily practices) of organizational life.


Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 658 employees from various organizations in Spain. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Hayes' PROCESS macro. The analysis included Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and moderated mediation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships.


Results: Purpose-driven mission consistency significantly influenced meaningful work perceptions. Prosocial behavior partially mediated this relationship, indicating that consistent purpose fosters meaning partly through its influence on pro-socially oriented employee actions. However, organizational trust did not significantly moderate these pathways.


Conclusion: This research contributes to understanding how organizations can foster meaningful work. When purpose is operationalized not as rhetoric but as a lived organizational reality, it can promote both meaningful work experiences and prosocial behavior. In doing so, organizations not only strengthen internal outcomes, such as engagement and well-being, but also advance broader societal objectives particularly those aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as promoting good health and well-being (SDG 3) and ensuring decent work and economic growth (SDG 8).