Abstract:
People are the primary source for a company’s competitive advantage, and organizational prosperity and
survival depend on the degree of interdependence between employer and employee. Hence, researchers
have paid a great deal of attention to employees and the enhancement of employee-related outcomes
through the creation of a proper Quality of Work Life for employees. The aim of this study is to investigate
whether personality moderates the relationship between quality of work life and organizational
commitment of Station Masters who work in the Sri Lanka Railways Department. Based on theoretical
arguments, common theories, logical beliefs and empirical knowledge, a conceptual framework was built.
Organizational commitment was the dependent variable. Quality of Work Life was the independent
variable. Personality was the moderator variable. A quantitative research approach was selected based
on logical reasoning. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. The sample comprised
of 280 Station Masters and a survey was conducted to include all stations in Sri Lanka for sampling. Data
were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Personality
moderated the relationship between the Quality of Work Life and Organizational Commitment. The study
has made theoretical and empirical contributions to the literature, as the findings confirmed the conceptual
framework that can enhance our understanding of the Quality of Work Life practices and organizational
commitment within the Sri Lankan context. These findings generalize the application of the underpinning
theories and their tenets in explaining the Quality of Work Life, Personality, Organizational Commitment,
especially for the railway sector in Sri Lanka. Recommendations were suggested and the limitations and
future research avenues were also pointed out.
